Untitled (studio portrait of woman with short hair wearing strapless formal gown) 1955

Editor: Here we have Martin Schweig’s "Untitled (studio portrait of woman with short hair wearing strapless formal gown)". It’s a photographic print, and the way the gown flows really grabs my attention. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, considering the means of production, this photographic process was a carefully orchestrated labor involving the sitter, the photographer, and the darkroom technicians. I wonder about the material value associated with such a formal gown, and who had access to it. Editor: That’s a good point. How would the production of the gown relate to the image itself? Curator: The gown’s materiality and construction are integral. It's not just an image of elegance, but a document reflecting social class and the labor involved in the garment industry. Its consumption is permanently captured. Editor: I never thought about it that way. I’ll definitely consider the social context of materials more closely from now on. Curator: Exactly. The photograph immortalizes this act of making and consumption, prompting us to examine the full scope of labor involved.