Untitled (re-photographed 19th century image of mother and three children) 1900 - 1950

Curator: Looking at this intriguing piece by Martin Schweig, “Untitled (re-photographed 19th century image of mother and three children)," a ghostly image emerges. What's your first impression? Editor: Hauntingly beautiful, like a memory barely clinging to existence. The reversal of tones makes it feel ethereal, almost otherworldly, don’t you think? Curator: Absolutely. Inverting the tones emphasizes the photograph's symbolic journey through time. Schweig’s choice transforms a conventional family portrait into a meditation on absence and the elusiveness of the past. Editor: It makes me think about how we try to hold onto those fleeting moments, those people, and how photography, even re-photography, can only offer a shadow of what once was. What do you make of the gaze of the figures? Curator: The figures become archetypes, almost, their blank gazes hinting at the universal experience of motherhood and childhood. The original image, now twice removed, represents a cultural echo. Editor: Yes, exactly. It really has something to say about time, memory, and how we interpret the past. Curator: It certainly does, leaving us to ponder the layers of meaning embedded within. Editor: Agreed! This is more than just a photograph; it's an invitation to reflect.