Untitled (aerial view of large city) c. 1950

Editor: This is Jack Gould's "Untitled (aerial view of large city)," a photograph from an unknown date. I'm struck by the repetitive geometry of the buildings. What processes might have been involved in making this image? Curator: Consider the labor involved in not just the photographic process, but in the city's construction. Each building, each window, represents countless hours of work and consumption of resources. Editor: So you see the city itself as a product of material processes? Curator: Exactly. And the photograph as a document of those processes, capturing the scale and density of urban development and its implications. Editor: That’s given me a whole new perspective on what to consider in an image like this! Curator: It's important to remember that art isn't just about aesthetics; it's about understanding the world around us.