Untitled (men with VW Beetle) 1956

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Peter James Studio, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, showing two men with a VW Beetle. Editor: It’s funny, seeing it inverted like this gives it a ghostly quality. Like a memory fading into the negative space. Curator: The Beetle itself is fascinating. It was initially conceived as a peoples' car, produced with simple materials and accessible engineering. Its massive production runs made it a global icon. Editor: Yes, but what about the men? One looks like a salesman in his Sunday best, while the other seems more casual, perhaps a mechanic. It's a study in class and labor, isn't it? Curator: Absolutely. And thinking about it, this image might be more than just a sales pitch; it could be about the hopes and dreams tied to this new symbol of mobility. Editor: So, beyond the sleek lines of the Beetle, it tells a bigger story about aspiration and the changing face of work. Curator: Indeed, and the lasting impression is that in some ways these figures become fused to the machine they are advertising.