Untitled (nine men and nine women in formal wear) c. 1940s

Curator: This small photographic negative at the Harvard Art Museums, attributed to John Deusing, is titled "Untitled (nine men and nine women in formal wear)." Editor: It’s striking how the negative image makes the figures appear almost spectral, like ghosts emerging from a bright, otherworldly space. Curator: The composition, with the nine women seated and the nine men standing behind them, suggests a formal occasion, perhaps a graduation or a wedding party. Note the architectural background with arched windows. Editor: The formal wear certainly indicates a specific social ritual. I'm curious about the power dynamics at play here, the very deliberate arrangement perhaps reflecting societal expectations of gender roles at the time. Curator: Indeed, the visual weight of the men positioned behind the women subtly reinforces traditional hierarchies. The bouquets held by the women, conversely, could symbolize fertility or new beginnings, laden with their own symbolism. Editor: That inversion of light and dark really does prompt reflection on how we interpret images and the social structures that they both reflect and reinforce. Curator: Absolutely, it's a reminder of the complexities embedded even within seemingly simple photographic portraits.