Untitled (studio portrait of woman with corsage and man with moustache) 1941

Editor: This is an untitled studio portrait by Martin Schweig. It’s a black and white photograph of a woman with a corsage and a man with a mustache. The negative effect gives it a ghostly, almost surreal quality. What strikes you about this image? Curator: The inversion of light and shadow is indeed striking. But I think it also highlights the performative nature of portraiture, especially in relation to gender and class. Look at the woman's corsage, the man's suit – they're symbols of a certain aspirational identity. What narratives do you think they're trying to construct? Editor: Perhaps they are presenting an image of success and sophistication in a society still dealing with issues of race and class? Curator: Precisely. Their careful presentation invites questions about power, representation, and the gaze, and how it plays into identity. It reveals a moment staged for posterity, but also for negotiation. I think it's a compelling reminder of the complexities embedded in seemingly simple images. Editor: I see it now, it makes you think about the story behind the people in the picture, not just what’s in front of you.