Untitled (Centennial flags outside J.C. Penney company) c. 1948

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (Centennial flags outside J.C. Penney company)" by Harry Annas, captures a slice of small-town America, though the negative image gives it an eerie feel. What catches your eye in terms of composition? Curator: The stark contrast between the architectural details and the ghostly figures creates a compelling visual tension. Note the geometry of the building juxtaposed with the rounded forms of the car. Editor: The car is an interesting part of the image, and I was also looking at the symmetry. Curator: Indeed, the photographer’s attention to the arrangement of forms and lines suggests a conscious effort to create a balanced, albeit unsettling, image. The Centennial flags add another layer to its symmetry. Editor: Fascinating. I see so many things now! Curator: As do I. There is an interplay of forms that I think we can keep exploring.