Untitled (portrait of child leaning on chair) c. 1945

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph of a child leaning on a chair by John Deusing. The strong contrast in this image makes me focus on the pose, it's so unnatural. What do you see in the composition? Curator: The photograph compels us through its manipulation of light and shadow. Observe how the inverted tones create a spectral quality, unsettling the expected realism of portraiture. Editor: Unsettling indeed! It's almost ghostly. Curator: Precisely. The composition invites inquiry into the materiality of the photograph itself—the chemical processes, the silver gelatin—rather than a mere likeness. Editor: So it's not about who's in the photo, but how it was made? Curator: In part, yes. We analyze its formal elements – the stark contrasts, the texture of the print itself – to glean meaning. What have you learned? Editor: I see now that the photograph's power isn't just the subject, but the artist's control of light and form to create such a striking image. Curator: And the photographic process itself, as an artistic medium. A valuable lesson, I think.