Untitled (two girls on thrones, group of girls formally dressed) 1937

Editor: This photograph by Harris & Ewing, titled "Untitled (two girls on thrones, group of girls formally dressed)," really strikes me. The staging feels so deliberate, almost theatrical. What's your take on this staged scene? Curator: It does seem theatrical, doesn't it? Considering Harris & Ewing were prominent portrait photographers in Washington D.C., this image raises questions about power dynamics and social performances. Who were these girls, and what roles were they enacting? Editor: That's fascinating! The two girls on the thrones versus the girls formally dressed as if attending them, it is very much a social performance. Curator: Exactly. Think about the historical context: what societal expectations might these girls have been internalizing, and how might the act of photographing them reinforce those expectations? The image becomes a document of its time. Editor: That makes me see the photo in a completely new light. It’s more than just a picture; it's a reflection of the social structures of that era. Curator: Precisely. And it prompts us to consider how such structures continue to shape our perceptions today.