Untitled (Phyllis Moore Stoll and Eugenie Stoll on deck of cruise ship) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by C. Bennette Moore, depicting Phyllis Moore Stoll and Eugenie Stoll on the deck of a cruise ship. The women appear so elegant. What kind of story do you think this image tells about its subjects and their world? Curator: It’s fascinating as a window into leisure and social status. The cruise ship setting speaks volumes about access and privilege during an era where such travel was exclusive. How does the photographer, C. Bennette Moore, fit into this social landscape? Editor: That’s a great question. I don’t know! Curator: Perhaps Moore was part of their social circle, documenting their lives. The image also highlights the performative aspect of wealth and leisure, captured for posterity. Did the subjects have agency over the image? Editor: That’s a good point; it is hard to know who this photograph was for and its role in shaping their public image. Curator: Exactly! This image then becomes a historical document of aspiration and representation.