Untitled (group portrait of nine people in costume) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph, a group portrait by Durette Studio. It's striking how theatrical they all look. What do you make of the costuming and staging in this context? Curator: It feels like a commentary on societal roles. The costumes, the almost burlesque quality of the performance, it suggests a playful yet critical examination of social conventions. Who are they trying to be, and why? Editor: So, not just a fun dress-up party? Curator: Perhaps, but consider the era. Group portraits were about projecting an image. Here, it's subverted. The photograph questions the very idea of a static identity, and how social roles can be both embraced and mocked. It invites us to reflect on the performance of identity. Editor: I see what you mean. It's much more complex than it initially seemed. Curator: Exactly!