Untitled (group portrait) 1939

Curator: John Deusing's "Untitled (group portrait)" from the Harvard Art Museums is presented as a photographic negative. My first impression is that the inversion gives it an unsettling, ghostly quality. Editor: Absolutely, it's as if they're emerging from a dream or some collective memory. Portraits are so fascinating; they try to freeze a moment, but this one acknowledges its own ephemeral nature. The negative itself becomes a symbol. Curator: The subjects seem arranged almost hierarchically. The men in suits in the front, then the women behind. It reminds me of old family photographs from the mid-20th century. Editor: Yes, there’s a formality, but also something endearing. The light and shadows emphasize certain features – the glasses, the patterns on the fabrics. It reminds us how much information is encoded in dress and gesture. You know, it's interesting, the picture has no specific date. Curator: I find it difficult to look away, the reversed light seems to hint at something hidden. It makes me think about all the unspoken stories within a family. Editor: It is a wonderful piece to think about the symbolism of memory, family legacy and photography itself.