Untitled (church choir) c. 1940

Curator: Looking at this intriguing gelatin silver print, "Untitled (church choir)" by John Deusing, I am struck by its stark contrast. Editor: Yes, the high contrast creates an almost ghostly, ethereal quality. It feels reverent and unsettling all at once. Curator: I agree. Deusing captures the choir in their robes, transforming them into a sea of light. It's fascinating how photography can both document a reality, and alter it so dramatically. The inverted tones create an almost otherworldly tableau. Editor: It makes you wonder about the social context, too. The choir, in its uniformity, representing community and tradition, yet presented in this disorienting way. Curator: Exactly, it blurs the lines between the individual and the collective. It's a quiet image, yet there’s something powerful in its stillness. Editor: Well, it certainly prompts me to think about the ways in which institutions like the church function and how they are represented. A haunting visual poem about faith and form.