Untitled (men sitting on couches, drinking) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph by Lainson Studios, called "Untitled (men sitting on couches, drinking)," shows a group of men, and it strikes me as very posed, very mid-century. What catches your eye in this composition? Curator: The geometric patterning in the carpet and wallpaper creates a visual tension with the men's more organic forms. Note the repetition of rectangles - the photograph itself, the room, the table, even the playing cards. It is like a Mondrian, but disrupted by figuration. Editor: So, the photograph itself is a study in contrasts? Curator: Precisely. The textures, the shapes, the balance between the artificial setting and the candid attitude. It all creates a fascinating visual dialectic. Editor: Interesting, I see that now, thank you.