Untitled (two men and two women in formal wear; studio portrait) c. 1940

Curator: This is John Deusing’s Untitled photograph of two men and two women in formal wear, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Striking! The stark tonality creates an almost ghostly, ethereal quality. Curator: Indeed. The negative image format emphasizes the social conventions of early 20th-century formal portraiture, while also subverting them. Consider the implications of a family commissioning such a work; it's a document of social standing. Editor: I'm drawn to the composition. The subjects’ arrangement, almost symmetrical, creates a formal visual language. Note the women seated with large hats and full dresses, with the men posed stoically behind them in suits. Curator: It certainly speaks to a structured social order. The studio backdrop further frames the subjects, placing them within a carefully constructed visual narrative. It begs the question: what societal values were at play? Editor: It seems the contrast between light and dark highlights the figures, imbuing them with a unique sense of presence, despite the unusual medium. Curator: A remarkable piece for understanding both photographic techniques and the societal norms of its time. Editor: Precisely. The way the artist balances form and photographic innovation adds an intriguing layer to its interpretation.