Untitled (family portrait outside) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have John Howell's "Untitled (family portrait outside)," a small gelatin silver print. It’s interesting to see a family portrait presented as a negative. What does this inverted image suggest to you? Curator: The inversion emphasizes the photographic process itself, reminding us of the constructed nature of image-making. Consider how family portraits have historically functioned as representations of social standing and idealized family structures. Does this negative challenge or reinforce those conventions, do you think? Editor: I suppose it does. It looks like the start of something - an unformed memory. Thanks for sharing that perspective! Curator: And thank you, I will keep that in mind next time I see it.