Untitled (dancer on stage) c. 1950

Editor: This gelatin silver print, "Untitled (dancer on stage)," by Peter James Studio, features a performer with birdcages attached to their costume. The setting looks like a theatrical stage or backstage. What do you see in this image? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this image through the lens of production. Notice the inverted tonality of the negative, revealing the labor-intensive photographic process. How does the use of the gelatin silver impact our reading of performance and the materials on display? Editor: That’s an interesting point. The image itself becomes a record of the labor and materials involved in its creation. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely. It encourages us to think about photography not just as representation, but as a product of specific material and social practices.