Untitled (three girls playing in front of Christmas tree) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph by John Howell, currently titled "Untitled (three girls playing in front of Christmas tree)" really captures a fleeting moment of childhood. Editor: It's initially unsettling, this inversion. The stark contrast highlights the textures though, those shiny ornaments, the girls' dresses... Curator: It feels warm, though, doesn't it? The intimacy of Christmas, filtered through the artist's lens. I wonder what they're playing. Editor: Probably some handcrafted game, considering the era. The means of production here are interesting – a simple camera capturing a domestic scene; the materiality is quite ordinary, yet charged with sentiment. Curator: Exactly. Ordinary made extraordinary, I’d say. There’s a certain magic in freezing time like this. It almost feels like a memory. Editor: For me, it evokes thoughts on labor, and the cultural significance of manufactured joy, as represented by the Christmas tree. Curator: Perhaps, but I like to think that this is more about genuine wonder. Editor: A good point. Let's meet again to discuss it further.