Untitled (five men in ties with bowling balls) c. 1940

Editor: This photograph by John Deusing, "Untitled (five men in ties with bowling balls)," features a line of men holding bowling balls, but the atmosphere feels strangely formal and almost eerie. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The photograph, in its depiction of these men, raises questions about the performance of masculinity within specific social structures, perhaps even exploring themes of power and conformity. The uniformity of their attire, contrasted with the individuality suggested by the bowling balls, creates a visual tension. Does this echo with contemporary understandings of labor? Editor: That's a really interesting point! It makes you consider the role of the individual within a collective identity. Curator: Precisely. And what does it say about the intersections of labor, leisure, and identity during the historical moment it represents? The backdrop sign that reads “Kellner’s Food” is interesting as well. Editor: I hadn’t noticed that before. Now it adds another layer about class to the interpretation. Thanks for your insight. Curator: And thank you for your curiosity. Art history is a collaborative process of discovery and re-evaluation.