Untitled (girl posing in costume with headdress and bow) c. 1950

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums present an intriguing photograph by Harry Annas, simply titled "Untitled (girl posing in costume with headdress and bow)." Editor: There's a wonderfully theatrical feel to it; the high contrast and stylized pose create a world of childhood fantasy. Curator: Indeed. The stark black and white palette amplifies the textural contrast between the girl's costume and the architectural details. Consider the tension between the rigid lines of the staircase and the flowing fabric. Editor: It feels like a captured moment of performance, perhaps a school play or a homemade costume party. There is also a sense of societal expectations being challenged by the child's joy. Curator: The framing almost creates a stage; the girl is the central figure. Her body gestures, the angle of her face, all create a sense of drama and emphasize its role as art. Editor: Agreed; the photograph highlights a child's imagination but also the social context in which that imagination is fostered and expressed. Curator: It is a testament to Annas's use of form to create this kind of drama. Editor: Exactly, and that's why this image remains so engaging.