Untitled (two boys with candle, rosary and bible for first communion) 1955

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by John Deusing, of two boys with a candle, rosary, and bible for first communion. It's a high-contrast image, almost dreamlike. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Well, it feels like a memory, doesn't it? The inverted tones give it an otherworldly quality. Think about the symbolism here: light, faith, innocence. But isn't there also a hint of something else? Editor: Something else? Like what? Curator: The formality, perhaps? The matching suits. It feels staged, a little performative. Childhood innocence, yes, but also the weight of tradition. What do you make of that? Editor: I see it now... It is like a play, and the boys are the main actors. Thanks for pointing it out. Curator: Absolutely, It’s a photo that whispers secrets if you listen closely enough.