Untitled (studio portrait of two women seated in profile wearing formal dresses with leaf edges) 1930 - 1940

Editor: This is an untitled photograph of two women in formal dresses by Martin Schweig. It's interesting that it appears to be a photographic negative. What can you tell me about this photograph? Curator: The use of AGFA nitrate film points towards an interesting story about materiality. Nitrate film was highly flammable and unstable; its selection reflects on the available technology, but also carries an undertone of risk and potential decay, doesn’t it? Editor: It does. This makes me wonder about the historical context of photograph production and the consumption of materials during the time it was made. Curator: Exactly! The seemingly simple choice of material reveals a complex interplay between the photographer, the means of production, and the inherent instability of the medium itself. Consider how that might influence our reading of the image.