Untitled (portrait of child in "Buster" hat) c. 1945

Curator: This photograph from the Harvard Art Museums is titled "Untitled (portrait of child in 'Buster' hat)" and created by John Deusing. Editor: Initially, the inverted tones create a slightly eerie effect, but the child's costume and hat add an intriguing layer. Curator: Exactly, the “Buster” hat is a direct reference to Buster Brown, a popular comic strip character who represented youthful mischief and middle-class aspirations. Editor: That certainly shifts the focus. The composition itself, with the child centered, emphasizes a certain idealized innocence, even with the photographic inversion. Curator: It's a constructed image, reflecting early 20th-century ideals about childhood. These kinds of studio portraits played a role in shaping societal expectations. Editor: And the materiality of the photograph—the grain, the tonal range—contributes to its antique feel, further distancing us but also drawing us in. Curator: It reminds us that even simple portraits can be powerful cultural documents. Editor: I agree. It's a fascinating artifact offering much to consider beyond its surface.