Untitled (bridal portrait) c. 1910s

Editor: This is Martin Schweig's Untitled (bridal portrait) from the Harvard Art Museums. I'm immediately struck by the materiality of the dress; the way the fabric drapes creates such an ethereal mood. What can you tell me about the materials and how they contribute to the work's meaning? Curator: Consider the context of photographic materials at the time. Photography was becoming more accessible, but artistic photography still required intention. What does the artist’s choice of process, the paper and chemicals, say about the desire to elevate this image beyond a mere snapshot? Editor: So, the specific materials chosen speak to an ambition beyond simple documentation? Curator: Precisely. And consider the labor involved in creating such a detailed print, contrasting it with the mass-produced images of the era. Editor: That's a great point; I hadn't thought about the artistic labor involved. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's all about seeing the choices the artist made in production.