Untitled (group portrait of ten young women in matching jackets standing around indoor statue) 1955 - 1957

Curator: This is an untitled photographic print by Martin Schweig, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts ten young women in matching jackets, positioned around an indoor statue. What strikes you most about this image? Editor: The uniformity, definitely. The matching jackets, their poses – it speaks volumes about institutional belonging and perhaps a desire for collective identity. But I’m curious about the statue in the background and its relationship to the figures in the foreground. Curator: Absolutely. The stark contrast between the classical statue and the modern jackets creates a tension, doesn’t it? I’m also intrigued by the photographic process itself – the tonality, the grain. This was clearly a deliberate choice by Schweig. What social narratives are present here? Editor: It makes me consider notions of tradition and modernity, of course, but also the ways in which women navigate spaces both dominated by historical male figures and contemporary expectations. Are they students? Athletes? What are they holding? Curator: Good questions. The jackets suggest some kind of formal affiliation. Perhaps a team, a club, or a school organization? We should definitely look into the material culture of these jackets. Editor: Right, it seems like there's a lot to unpack about the interplay between individual identity and group affiliation. Curator: Indeed. Schweig’s photograph really opens up several lines of inquiry. Editor: Yes, it's a potent image that invites viewers to explore social dynamics.