Thé dansant op 19 April 1931. 1931 - 1934

This silver gelatin print, titled Thé dansant op 19 April 1931, was produced by Atelier Kurkdjian. Photography is a particularly interesting medium because it captures a fleeting moment in time, yet, as a manufactured artifact, it's also very much of its time. Consider the social context of this image, a 'tea dance' likely held for entertainment or fundraising. What we see is a world of subtle class distinctions, made visible through choices of clothing and setting. The wallpaper, the light fixtures, the very arrangement of bodies in the room – all have been carefully made and orchestrated, often by invisible hands. Photography, like other industrial processes, has always been subject to questions of labor and access. Who gets to participate in the making of these images, and whose stories are told? This photograph is a powerful reminder that even the most straightforward images are the result of a complex set of choices, and a product of both individual agency and collective labor.