Untitled (young girl posing in yard with baby boy in stroller and dog in background) 1953

Editor: This untitled photograph by Martin Schweig shows a young girl and a baby in a stroller, with a dog in the background. The negative's tonality gives it a ghostly feel. What do you notice about the composition? Curator: The stark contrast immediately strikes me. Note the formal arrangement. The children are centered, yet the negative space surrounding them creates a certain tension. What does the architectural background suggest to you? Editor: It seems very ordinary, maybe emphasizing the everyday nature of the scene? I hadn't really focused on the building. Curator: Precisely. Schweig uses this mundane backdrop to heighten the focus on the figures. Consider the lines, the geometric shapes of the house against the organic forms of the children. Editor: I see that now. It's interesting how such simple elements can create such a complex visual experience.