Untitled (studio portrait of boy with two younger twin sisters) 1940

Editor: Here we have "Untitled (studio portrait of boy with two younger twin sisters)" by Martin Schweig. It's a black and white photograph, quite formal, but also has these little markings all over it. What do you see in the means of production of this work? Curator: The markings are key. This isn't just a photograph, it's a photographic *proof*. Notice the studio stamp. The materiality speaks to a process, to labor, to consumption. The photographer's markings indicate selection, decisions, perhaps even negotiations with the family. It’s not the final product, but a stage in its creation. Editor: So, it’s about what went into making the final photograph, more than the image itself? Curator: Exactly! Consider the social context of studio portraiture. It’s about aspiration, presenting a carefully constructed image of the family to the world. Even this 'proof' reveals those aspirations. Editor: Interesting, I never thought about it that way! Curator: Thinking about the means of production really changes how we see it.