Untitled (portrait of a woman) c. 1925

Curator: Martin Schweig’s “Untitled (portrait of a woman),” presently held at the Harvard Art Museums, immediately strikes me as theatrical. Editor: Yes, the lighting and pose feel very staged, almost like a film still. I wonder about the context of its production; was Schweig working in commercial photography? The heavy paper stock and the inscription "Schweig, ST. LOUIS" at the bottom hint at his engagement with materiality and distribution practices. Curator: Perhaps. I’m drawn to the way she gazes upward; it's an attitude of hope or maybe even defiance. I feel a sense of intimacy, even vulnerability. Editor: The image’s composition and the model’s pose create an almost idealized image of femininity, which I think is relevant in understanding its period of production. Curator: Absolutely, and understanding the period helps unlock some of those layers of meaning we're seeing. Editor: It reminds us that art objects like these photographs are not just beautiful images, but they're also products of social and economic forces. Curator: Beautifully put. It’s a reminder of the many stories an image can tell.