Untitled (view of house through rosebush) c. 1970s

Curator: Here we have John Gossage's "Untitled (view of house through rosebush)." Editor: It’s a tangled, almost claustrophobic composition. The thorny branches obscure any easy view. Curator: Precisely. Gossage's work often probes the overlooked corners of the everyday. This print, residing at the Harvard Art Museums, shows us something quite banal, but through a deliberate photographic act. What interests me is its status as 'art'; a carefully considered, constructed image. Editor: I see the labor in its making. The darkroom practice, the choices about depth of field. It reminds us that even capturing the mundane requires skill and intentionality. Curator: It challenges what we deem worthy of attention, prompting us to see the world around us with fresh eyes. Editor: Exactly. It’s not just seeing, but also considering the social act of looking, and how the artist shapes what we see. Curator: A rewarding image once you spend some time with it. Editor: Indeed, it repays careful consideration of its making and perspective.