Untitled (large banquet) 1948

Curator: Let's examine "Untitled (large banquet)" from the Peter James Studio, a black and white photograph measuring approximately 4 by 5 inches, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The photograph's tonality strikes me first; the reversed, almost spectral quality lends an ethereal, unsettling mood to what appears to be a formal gathering. Curator: Indeed. The high contrast emphasizes the geometric patterns of the architectural setting juxtaposed against the organic forms of the gathered figures. The image explores the tension between order and chaos. Editor: And the labor that goes into such an event! The unseen hands that prepared the space, the food, the clothing. The photograph, through its very starkness, highlights the social framework necessary to produce such a display of power. Curator: A compelling counterpoint, focusing attention on the material conditions that constitute these formal rituals. The interplay is fascinating. Editor: Absolutely, it offers a new lens through which we can appreciate both the performative and productive aspects of this “banquet.”