Untitled (bridal portrait, seated next to urn) c. 1940

Editor: This is John Deusing's "Untitled (bridal portrait, seated next to urn)" and it is a black and white print. The setting feels both celebratory and mournful to me. What historical context should we consider when looking at this portrait? Curator: The image evokes complex questions about societal expectations of women in marriage, particularly if viewed through a feminist lens. The bridal portrait, juxtaposed with the urn, speaks to life, death, and the traditional constraints placed on women. Who is she marrying, but also, what parts of herself are dying in this union? Editor: The urn makes me think about loss, so perhaps the death of her former self is meant to be taken literally here. Curator: Exactly. Do you think she looks happy? Or, more accurately, does she appear to have agency? The power dynamics embedded within the institution of marriage warrant our critical attention. Editor: I see what you mean. It highlights the complex negotiations of identity within social structures. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely. It prompts us to question whose gaze this portrait truly serves.