Untitled (studio portrait of woman standing in curved gate, wearing hat, coat, and corsage) 1952

Curator: This is an untitled studio portrait by John Deusing, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s a fascinatingly staged photograph, evoking a mood of both hopeful anticipation and a certain guardedness. Curator: Yes, that guardedness might stem from the symbolism of the curved gate she stands behind, a threshold perhaps, but also a barrier. Her corsage and hat suggest a special occasion. Editor: The materiality of the backdrop also interests me. The contrast between the soft fabric drape and the hard, manufactured gate speaks to social constructions of femininity in the mid-20th century. Curator: The gate could also represent a rite of passage, that moment of stepping into adulthood, burdened by cultural expectations. The hat and corsage are almost like ritual adornments. Editor: Right, mass-produced symbols of aspiration. The photograph itself as a commodity, documenting and reinforcing social status. Curator: The pose, the gate, the corsage – all contribute to a visual language that’s both personal and deeply embedded in cultural norms. Editor: Exactly, which makes me wonder about the labor involved in creating this image. The photographer, the set builders... Curator: It gives us so much to think about! Editor: Indeed, a potent image.