Untitled (large group portrait under tree on lawn) c. 1950

Curator: This is an intriguing find from John Deusing, an untitled photograph depicting a large group portrait under a tree on a lawn. Editor: It's quite ghostly, isn't it? That inverted light... it almost feels like looking at a memory, a collective dream fading at the edges. Curator: Precisely! The inverted tones create a sense of unease, but also a strange harmony. The composition, with the figures arranged beneath the expansive tree, suggests community, but also a visual hierarchy. Editor: Makes me wonder about who these people are, and what their relationships are to each other. The tree—a symbol of growth, shelter—overshadows them, though. It's like the institution or the structure is more important than the individuals themselves. Curator: That's a compelling reading! The lack of identifying details certainly invites speculation on power dynamics within the group. Editor: Ultimately, I think it's a haunting meditation on collective identity. Curator: And for me, a reminder of the power of photography to both capture and obscure.