Untitled (Coca Cola float, Suffolk, Virginia) c. 1930s

Curator: This intriguing gelatin silver print, "Untitled (Coca Cola float, Suffolk, Virginia)" comes from the Hamblin Studio. What's your first impression? Editor: It's eerie, yet somehow festive. A strange mix of commercial celebration in what looks like an inverted world. Curator: Absolutely! It's a photographic negative, which lends to that ghostly vibe. Think about Coca-Cola's role, especially in the South. Editor: Right, it's more than just refreshment. It's tied to American identity, even ideals of prosperity... ideals which weren't always available to everyone. It's like this inverted image reveals something hidden. Curator: Precisely. The Hamblin Studio captured a moment, but through this reversed lens, they hint at layers beneath the surface of a simple parade float. Editor: It makes you think about the stories we tell ourselves, and how easily images can both reflect and obscure the truth.