Untitled (woman with crown and flowers standing with young woman and two small children at Masonic ceremony) 1951

Editor: This image, by Martin Schweig, is an untitled photograph of a woman with a crown and flowers standing with a young woman and two small children at what seems to be a Masonic ceremony. It's a small print. I’m struck by how surreal the negative space makes it feel. What's your take on this piece? Curator: It's wonderfully odd, isn't it? The inverted tones amplify the ritualistic atmosphere. I see a poignant commentary on belonging, the weight of tradition, perhaps even a touch of theatricality. The floral crown seems less celebratory and more like a symbol of a particular kind of burden. Editor: Burden? That's interesting; I didn't think of it that way. It felt more celebratory to me. But I do see the theatricality you mention. Curator: Yes, it's a dance, this life—a performance we’re all engaged in, and sometimes, the costumes feel a little too heavy. It's a photograph pregnant with stories. Editor: Well, now I'm thinking about all those stories. Thanks!