No. 567. Franklin Street, Looking Down, Boston, Mass. 1862 - 1875

Curator: John Payson Soule’s photograph, "No. 567. Franklin Street, Looking Down, Boston, Mass.," presents a seemingly straightforward urban scene. But what does it mean to look *down* on Franklin Street in this historical moment? Editor: It feels like a glimpse into a past era, with the horse-drawn carriages and the tall buildings. I wonder, what social dynamics were at play in a city like Boston at this time? Curator: Precisely. The image subtly reveals the class structure and the spatial organization of power. Who had access to this vantage point, and whose labor sustained this environment? Consider the construction workers who built those buildings, the drivers of those carriages... How does this image reinforce or challenge those power dynamics? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. It makes me think about whose stories are missing from this seemingly simple street scene. Curator: Exactly. By questioning the photographer's perspective and the subjects within the frame, we can uncover a deeper understanding of the social and political landscape of the time.