Wanderer 1915

Editor: Here we have Heinrich Kuhn's "Wanderer," a gelatin-silver print from 1915. It feels very… ephemeral, almost like a memory fading at the edges. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Considering Kuhn’s practice, the ethereal quality draws my attention to the production itself. Look at the gelatin-silver process; how readily available were these materials at the time, and who had access? The blurring is intentional. It almost appears mass-produced and mimics a fleeting moment in a social context where leisure and mobility for women were gradually increasing. Who are these women, and what is their socioeconomic background that afforded them time outside the labor force? Editor: So, you’re less focused on their personal journey as “wanderers” and more on what their existence and this *kind* of image says about the wider world? Curator: Precisely. This wasn’t captured on a whim. This would have been a considered project involving access to specialized materials and processes and a particular understanding of photographic techniques to emulate other popular media that were circulated during the period, such as painting. Kuhn would’ve considered the labor that goes into making such images, and furthermore, how that relates to artistic traditions and what photography can uniquely offer. Does the scene appear “natural”, or constructed and posed? Editor: I see your point! It's not just a candid snapshot; it's a constructed scene, made possible by a complex system of resources, labor, and photographic know-how. And their freedom is only *perceived* if we ignore the material realities that allow it. It makes you think about who gets to be seen as ‘free.’ Curator: Exactly! Considering the social, economic, and material elements behind "Wanderer" exposes those invisible networks and brings into relief what it signifies today versus the romantic ideal it puts forward. It challenges our perception. Editor: That’s really changed how I see this photo. It’s far more grounded, which makes it more impactful, in a strange way.