Untitled (shoes taken off at the door) 1956

Editor: This is John Deusing's "Untitled (shoes taken off at the door)". It's a black and white photograph housed at the Harvard Art Museums. I find the composition quite intriguing. What might the presence of these shoes at a doorway suggest to you? Curator: The placement near the door immediately suggests ritual and social etiquette. Whose home is this? Do we see a casual acceptance of someone else's social norms, or a forced conformity to them? What does it say about the power dynamic within the space? Editor: That’s a fascinating way to look at it. I hadn't considered the social implications so deeply. Curator: Photography, especially snapshots like these, can often function as unintentional records of social practices, capturing unspoken rules and power structures within domestic spaces. It makes you wonder about who is visiting and what expectations are placed upon them. Editor: Thank you, I'll remember that when looking at images. Curator: Glad I could help.