Grumman Aerospace, Bethpage 1978

Editor: This is Per Brandin’s "Grumman Aerospace, Bethpage" from the Harvard Art Museums collection. It's a black and white photograph of a few men in what looks like a factory. What strikes me is how ordinary the scene appears given the presumably high-tech work happening there. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Considering it's a photograph of Grumman Aerospace, let's think about the material conditions of its production. The film, the camera, the darkroom, and the labor required to produce this image were all part of a larger industrial complex. Who were these men and what was their role in the production of aerospace technology? What social and economic forces shaped their lives and the work they did? Editor: So, you're saying the photo itself is part of the machinery? It's not just a picture *of* the factory, but *from* the factory? Curator: Precisely! By understanding the materials and the processes involved, we gain a deeper understanding of the social and historical context of this artwork.