Untitled (portrait in studio, woman standing with hand on one hip) c. 1940

Curator: This photograph, simply titled "Untitled (portrait in studio, woman standing with hand on one hip)" comes to us from the hand of John Deusing. Editor: There's such striking confidence in her posture! The high heels, the flapper dress; she embodies the spirit of the roaring twenties. Curator: Absolutely. It's important to consider the context. This portrait speaks to the changing roles of women and the emergence of new identities during that period. Editor: Considering the backdrop and her light-colored dress, it makes me wonder about the performance of femininity and race—is she playing into or subverting expectations? Curator: Exactly, and how photography itself contributed to constructing and disseminating those images. It is a piece that challenges our present assumptions. Editor: Thinking about it now, I appreciate how this single image opens up such a rich dialogue on identity and representation.