Norfolk Southern SD40-2, Oak Island Yard, Newark, New Jersey 1991

Editor: This is James Welling’s "Norfolk Southern SD40-2, Oak Island Yard, Newark, New Jersey" from 1991. It's a black and white photograph of a train engine. The industrial subject matter gives the image a somewhat bleak, documentary feel, yet the composition is carefully considered. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: The choice to photograph this specific locomotive in 1991 is particularly evocative. Think about the sociopolitical landscape then: the Cold War ending, globalization accelerating, and deindustrialization deeply affecting cities like Newark. This image, far from just being about trains, becomes a potent symbol of shifting economic power and the decline of American manufacturing. Editor: So, you see the train less as a train and more as a sign of broader changes? Curator: Exactly. Welling isn't just documenting; he's subtly commenting on the ways in which these massive machines – these engines of industry – are becoming relics in a post-industrial landscape. Consider how the black and white medium adds to that sense of the past, almost like an archive of a disappearing world. How does it make you feel, given all this? Editor: I guess it makes me a little sad, thinking about the people and communities affected by these changes. It's more than just a train picture, it’s a story of labor and loss. Curator: Precisely. And Welling, by presenting it as a still, almost monumental, object, forces us to confront these complex histories and their lasting impact on our society. This seemingly simple photograph becomes a powerful meditation on the intersection of industry, identity, and the passage of time. Editor: That makes me see it in a totally different light now. Thanks for pointing that out!