Untitled (large group of women at banquet tables) c. 1945

This photograph of a large group of women at banquet tables was taken by Robert Burian. It’s a small, black and white print, and it feels like it was made in a flash – as if it was important to catch a particular moment. The tonal range is narrow, leaning towards bright whites and darker shadows, which gives it this stark, almost high-contrast feel. The negative’s grainy texture adds a layer of depth. Look at the heads, all in a row, and the table settings: the longer you look, the more they start to break down into abstract marks. The flatness of the photograph makes you want to reach in and mess with it, you know? It reminds me a little of Thomas Demand, who also plays with photography’s ability to capture and distort memory. But where Demand meticulously recreates scenes, this image feels more immediate, more like a snapshot of a particular social gathering. What kind of world do you think they’re building together?