Untitled (Santa Claus talking to an adult) 1944

Curator: This image, held in the Harvard Art Museums, is an untitled photograph by John Deusing, depicting Santa Claus conversing with an adult. Editor: The high contrast immediately gives it a rather unsettling feel, doesn't it? A stark, almost ghostly rendition of a normally jolly figure. Curator: Absolutely. Consider how Santa, as a cultural icon, is typically presented. This subversion challenges the commercialized, sanitized version we've come to expect. Editor: It's fascinating how the inverted tones change our perception. The Santa figure, typically a symbol of generosity, here takes on a more complex, perhaps even slightly menacing presence. The man's averted gaze only deepens the mystery. Curator: Precisely. The image invites us to question the constructed nature of such figures, and perhaps the societal expectations placed upon them during the holiday season. The man talking to him could even be seen as a stand-in for the viewer, placing us within the critique. Editor: This image makes me think about how symbols can be so easily reinterpreted or inverted to challenge our deeply-held assumptions. Curator: Indeed. It highlights the power of photography to both perpetuate and disrupt cultural narratives.