Untitled (wedding portrait on bench in studio) c. 1940

Editor: This is an untitled wedding portrait by John Deusing. It’s a black and white photograph showing a newly married couple, and the negative effect creates this ghostly mood. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It invites us to consider the historical construction of marriage and gender roles. The woman, adorned yet demure, sits while the man stands beside her. How does this staging reflect the power dynamics inherent in societal expectations of marriage at the time? Editor: That's interesting, I didn't think about it that way. Curator: Think about how studio portraiture served to formalize and solidify these conventions. The very act of posing for a wedding portrait becomes a participation in a cultural ritual, reinforcing specific notions of identity. Editor: So, it's not just a snapshot of a happy couple, but a statement about society? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to question what expectations are being met, and what narratives are being perpetuated through this seemingly simple image. Editor: I see. I will look at wedding photos differently from now on.