Untitled (man standing in front of window) 1951

Curator: This photograph, simply titled "Untitled (man standing in front of window)," is attributed to Peter James Studio. Its dimensions are roughly 5 by 4 inches and it is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My initial feeling is isolation. The man stands between interior and exterior worlds, holding papers almost like a shield. Curator: The window is a powerful symbol. It suggests liminal space, the boundary between the private self and the public sphere. He is positioned between them, trapped, maybe? Editor: Yes, and the skyline visible through the window speaks to the booming urbanism of the era, perhaps contributing to his anxiety. It would be interesting to know the historical context around the photo, to explore this man's position in society. Curator: Indeed. The hat and phone on the side table ground us to a particular place and time, yet the composition and pose imbue the image with a timeless quality. Editor: Seeing the world through the lens of photographic imagery like this allows us to revisit some very old ideas about ourselves.