Untitled (bridal party portrait in studio) c. 1950

Curator: This haunting photograph, simply titled "Untitled (bridal party portrait in studio)," comes to us from the lens of John Deusing. The image, rendered in stark monochrome on an 8x10 inch frame, presents the spectral figures of a wedding party. Editor: It looks like an eerie dream, or perhaps a photographic negative of one. The reversal of light and shadow gives it a ghostly quality. What was Deusing aiming at? Curator: Perhaps Deusing was exploring the materiality of photography itself. The transformation from subject to negative, from reality to representation, highlights the layers of artifice involved in even the most seemingly straightforward portrait. Consider, too, the labour involved in developing this image. Editor: I can't help but be drawn into the emotional landscape of such an image. The inversion evokes a sense of absence, or even a premonition. I think it speaks to the ephemeral nature of such moments. Curator: Perhaps, but let's not overlook the craft and the specific social context of this portrait. The formal wear, the studio setting - these speak volumes about aspirations and societal expectations. Editor: You are right - I am definitely guilty of getting lost in the shadows. Curator: Well, I have definitely enjoyed seeing this in a different light.