Untitled (group portrait with banner: "Wheeling for True Democracy") c. 1940

Curator: This is an untitled group portrait by John Deusing, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It includes a banner reading "Wheeling for True Democracy". Editor: It’s a striking image—somewhat haunting, almost ghostly in its starkness. The arrangement is interesting with the banner looming over the group. Curator: It speaks volumes about the social fabric of the time. Group portraits like this were often used to project a unified front, signaling collective aspirations. Editor: I'm drawn to the banner itself. The lettering looks hand-painted, which speaks to the labor involved in crafting this message, and the community rallying around the promise of true democracy. Curator: Indeed, banners like this played a crucial role in public discourse. The very act of creating and displaying it was a political statement. Editor: The photo's materiality tells a story too. The photographic process itself, the choices in composition, all contribute to how we understand this group and their vision. I wonder about the labor behind its making. Curator: Ultimately, this image offers us a window into a specific moment in history, inviting us to consider the power dynamics and the quest for democracy. Editor: It's a poignant reminder that even a simple photograph can reveal so much about the intersection of labor, material, and the pursuit of a more just society.