Untitled (three girls with bibles, candles and rosaries) c. 1940

Editor: This is an intriguing photograph by John Deusing, it's called "Untitled (three girls with bibles, candles and rosaries)." The negative image makes it difficult to read, but I’m struck by the emphasis on objects. What can you tell me about the work? Curator: Consider the material conditions of this image. The photographic process itself, the cost of materials, who had access to this technology at the time it was made? Further, what is the social context of these objects – the bibles, rosaries, and candles? How do they function as markers of identity and social status? Editor: So, you’re seeing the photo less as an image and more as a record of materials and social standing? Curator: Precisely. We should explore the labor involved in producing these items, and their roles in the lives of these girls. Editor: Fascinating. I never considered the objects as individual products with their own histories. Curator: And how might mass production of these objects change or reinforce cultural values? Editor: I see how a materialist approach provides a different lens for understanding art. Thanks!