Untitled (child in triangle paper hat holding toy gun) c. 1940

Curator: This is an untitled image by John Deusing, held in the Harvard Art Museums, depicting a child in a paper hat holding a toy gun. Editor: My initial impression is one of unsettling innocence. That paper hat seems festive, almost clownish, but coupled with the toy gun, it creates this really bizarre tension. Curator: Yes, it's a complex piece, isn't it? Without a known date, the image's historical context is a bit ambiguous, but we can still analyze it through the lens of childhood and play within particular social contexts. Toy guns, for instance, have a long and often fraught history. Editor: Exactly, it makes me wonder about the intended role of play in shaping identity. Was this meant to be cute, or is there a darker commentary bubbling beneath the surface? And the child's expression...it's almost blank, which just adds to the unease. Curator: The image invites those reflections. The child's lack of expression and the stark, almost clinical, presentation of the photograph prompt us to consider the societal attitudes toward childhood, weaponry, and the performance of identity. Editor: Well, it definitely makes you think! I keep going back to that paper hat; it's so fragile, juxtaposed with the idea of violence, even simulated. It's like a fleeting moment captured with a weight that's hard to shake off. Curator: Absolutely. It's a photograph that continues to resonate and invite dialogue, challenging our preconceived notions about innocence and play.