Untitled (children in church) c. 1948

Editor: This is John Deusing's "Untitled (children in church)," its date is unknown. The silver gelatin print portrays a group of children gathered in a church setting. The high contrast creates a rather stark impression. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: The photograph's strength lies in its symmetrical arrangement. Note how the architectural lines of the church—the arches, the altar—mirror the rows of children. It's almost a study in verticality versus horizontality, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I see what you mean. The lines of the pews also contribute to that horizontal emphasis. What does that contrast suggest? Curator: The verticality implies aspiration, perhaps a reaching towards the divine, while the horizontal speaks to grounding and communal solidarity. The negative reverses our assumptions, doesn't it? It challenges us to see the familiar in a new light. Editor: Absolutely. I'll never look at reversed prints the same way again!