Untitled (portrait of four women and one man) 1910

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Hamblin Studio, portraying four women and one man. It’s quite striking; the figures almost seem to emerge from the bright background. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I notice the stark contrast created by the photographic process itself. Consider the materials: the emulsion, the silver halides, the labor involved in developing this image. Does it reflect the social conditions of the time? Who had access to this technology, and what stories did they choose to tell? Editor: That's a great way to look at it. I hadn't considered the socioeconomic aspect of photography itself. Thanks! Curator: And how the photograph is made implicates social status and labor. I'm glad you see it too!