Custom House c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have Chester Price’s "Custom House," an etching that captures a city street scene. I find the image evokes a sense of early 20th-century urban life. What symbolic weight do you see in Price's depiction? Curator: The Custom House, often a physical embodiment of governmental authority, speaks to power structures and the flow of commerce. Notice how the architecture looms, seemingly indifferent to the figures below. Do you sense any tension between these elements? Editor: I do. It’s like the people are dwarfed by the institution. That tension gives the image a somber mood. Curator: Perhaps Price is inviting us to reflect on the individual's place within larger societal systems, a potent symbol then, and even now. It echoes enduring themes of identity and agency. Editor: I never considered the building itself as a symbol. It really changes how I see the entire composition.