Untitled (boy dressed in white, seated, holding bible and rosary on lap) c. 1950

Editor: This is an intriguing photograph by John Deusing, simply titled "Untitled (boy dressed in white, seated, holding bible and rosary on lap)." It's a small black and white image. The boy's clothing seems very intentional. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Considering a materialist lens, it's fascinating how the white clothing acts as both a symbol of purity and a signifier of labor. Who produced this outfit? Where were the materials sourced? Was this a garment for everyday wear, or specifically for this rite? The image's power lies in the obscured production process. Editor: So, you're saying the image prompts us to consider the unseen labor behind the visible representation of religious ritual? Curator: Precisely. The photograph transforms a social act into a commodity, obscuring the network of making, and consumption around religious identity. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It makes me rethink the photograph's purpose entirely.