Untitled (nurse with baby) 1944

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by John Deusing depicting a nurse holding a baby. It's a gelatin silver print, quite small, only about 4 by 5 inches. Editor: My first thought is how ghostly it appears, almost like a photographic negative. The stark contrast emphasizes the textures of the nurse's uniform and the baby’s soft skin. Curator: The image presents an interesting study of the nursing profession. Consider the societal expectations placed on these women, often working-class, who held a vital role in public health. Editor: Exactly. And the material reality of their uniforms, starched and pressed, speaks to the labor involved. The way the light falls also highlights the act of care, the labor that has been essential to sustain entire societies. Curator: Indeed. The photograph captures a moment of intimate caregiving within a larger system, where healthcare practices reflect specific social values. Editor: It's a powerful reminder of the labor and care embedded within everyday life, now visible through the processes and materials of photography. Curator: It has certainly highlighted the complex intersections of care, class, and representation in the image. Editor: For me, it brings the unseen labor of care to the fore, offering a tangible and material connection to our history.