Untitled (double portrait of two babies sitting in chair) 1930 - 1940

Editor: This silver gelatin print by Martin Schweig, called "Untitled (double portrait of two babies sitting in chair)" is fascinating. The negative tonality gives it an eerie, almost otherworldly feel. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This photograph speaks volumes about the socio-cultural context of portraiture. Consider the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when photography became more accessible. Double portraits, especially of children, served as accessible records of family. The seemingly negative print, in this case, reminds us of the technical processes and the manipulation of image-making itself, underscoring how even personal mementos are mediated. Editor: So, you're saying it's less about the babies and more about how we create and consume images? Curator: Precisely! It makes us consider the public role of art and the politics inherent in even the simplest of images. Editor: That definitely shifts my perspective. I'll never look at baby photos the same way again. Curator: Me neither, it is important to keep these social-historical considerations in mind.