Doorway, Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy 1886

Editor: This is Joseph Smith’s photograph of the "Doorway, Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy." The stark black and white tones really emphasize the textures of the stone. What do you see in how Smith chose to depict this architectural space? Curator: The image showcases the labor embedded in each carved stone, and the social context of religious architecture. The building materials and the process of construction are integral to understanding its purpose. Editor: So, you're saying the photograph emphasizes the building's function through its construction? Curator: Precisely. By focusing on the material reality, Smith’s image challenges our traditional separation of art from the labor required to produce it, don't you think? Editor: I see your point. I hadn't considered the social implications of the building's materiality before. Curator: Considering the materiality really shifts our focus.