Holden Chapel, Harvard University 1863 - 1884

Curator: Before us is a photograph by George Kendall Warren, depicting Holden Chapel at Harvard University. Editor: It's a quiet, almost melancholy image, isn't it? The bare trees dominate, their branches like veins against the sky. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the social and historical weight of Harvard, an institution built on privilege, even on the backs of enslaved peoples. This chapel, then, becomes a site of complex narratives. Editor: And the materiality itself—this small albumen print. Think about the labor involved in creating it, the chemicals, the darkroom, all contributing to this lasting depiction of establishment. Curator: The image invites us to consider the interwoven histories and power dynamics that define the landscape. Editor: A thoughtful image, indeed. Curator: Yes, it leaves us to ponder the visible and invisible structures around us.