Untitled (bridal party portrait in studio) c. 1945

Curator: This captivating photograph is an untitled bridal portrait taken in studio by John Deusing. Editor: It’s stark. The negative creates a ghostly pallor over everyone. What social conventions are at play here? Curator: Consider the photographic process—the posing, the lighting. Studio portraits were a specific kind of commodity, accessible to those who could afford it. Editor: I can't help but think about the historical context of marriage—a patriarchal institution. This image documents a very specific social ritual. Curator: The very materiality of the photograph—the gelatin silver print—speaks to a particular moment in technological advancement and consumption. Editor: True, and analyzing the composition, who is centered, who is at the margins, reveals power dynamics that are still relevant today. Curator: Looking at it from this perspective, we can consider it as a material object, and also a document of social relations. Editor: Absolutely. Let's consider how images like these reinforce or challenge societal norms.