Untitled (portrait of woman wearing glasses) c. 1950

Curator: This is John Howell’s striking, albeit untitled, portrait of a woman wearing glasses, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small, just about 7 by 5 inches. Editor: The inversion of tones gives it an ethereal quality. Almost like an x-ray, exposing something normally hidden. Curator: As a photographic negative, it reveals process. Consider the labor involved, the darkroom rituals, the material precision necessary to capture and preserve an image this way. Editor: The glasses are particularly resonant. They symbolize intellect, perception, the very act of seeing and understanding. What did she see, and what did she want us to see? Curator: Perhaps Howell intended to question the very act of representation, showing us not the "real" but the chemical residue of light on emulsion. Editor: Still, the portrait evokes a sense of quiet dignity, a woman of substance and reflection. It makes you wonder about her story, her world. Curator: Indeed, the materiality and social context merge, giving us a glimpse into a specific time and method of production. Editor: Ultimately, its power lies in its ability to transcend its technical nature and touch something deeply human.