Untitled (nine children posed sitting in front of fireplace decorated with stockings) 1968

Curator: This photograph by Martin Schweig, housed here at Harvard, is labeled "Untitled (nine children posed sitting in front of fireplace decorated with stockings)." Editor: It's striking how the negative image casts a ghostly aura over the scene, especially the children's faces. There's a strange intimacy despite the formality of the pose. Curator: Given the fireplace setting, adorned with what appears to be stockings, we might consider the social ritual being documented. The materiality of the stockings, likely mass-produced, speaks to the evolving traditions of gift-giving and the commodification of holiday celebrations. Editor: The stockings, traditionally symbols of hope and anticipation, are juxtaposed with the children's expressions which seem neutral, almost solemn. The image of the chandelier hanging above the fireplace speaks to a sense of aspiration and grandeur. Curator: Indeed, it provokes thoughts on how photographic practices, like the creation of this negative, mediate our relationship to memory and representation. I wonder about Schweig's choice of medium. Editor: It certainly complicates our reading, layering meaning onto an already richly symbolic scene. It encourages one to think about the meaning of familial bonds. Curator: A curious piece, offering layers for interpretation.