Untitled (portrait of two young women) c. 1950s

Editor: This is John Deusing’s photograph, “Untitled (portrait of two young women).” It's a small, almost ghostly image. What’s striking is the way the negative space seems to illuminate the subjects. How would you interpret this work? Curator: The inverted tones immediately bring to mind the ‘memento mori’ tradition. The attire, resembling wedding veils, combined with the negative’s funereal feel, suggests a meditation on fleeting beauty and mortality. Does the reversal change how we view these symbols? Editor: It adds a layer of complexity, I think. It's like seeing a memory fading or perhaps being reborn. Curator: Precisely. The photographic negative itself becomes a symbol—a reminder of what once was, transformed into something new. Editor: That’s insightful. I hadn't considered the medium itself as a symbol. Thank you! Curator: It is a potent reminder of how images can convey layers of meaning across time and perception.