Dave Eating Oatmeal at the Economy Possibly 1990 - 1994

Editor: Here we have Jim Goldberg’s gelatin-silver print, "Dave Eating Oatmeal at the Economy," potentially taken between 1990 and 1994. It's stark and feels intensely personal, a glimpse into a private moment. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: My focus goes directly to the labor suggested, seen through Dave's act of eating. Oatmeal, often an inexpensive meal, hints at economic realities, while the act of photographing it in gelatin silver positions the artistic labor itself. I’m drawn to how Goldberg utilizes readily available materials—film, inexpensive food—to engage with broader socio-economic issues. Where do you see the 'economy' represented? Editor: I suppose it's there in the simple composition and the worn surfaces of the diner. Is there a critique implied in showing the labor, artistic and otherwise? Curator: Certainly. The choice of gelatin silver print itself is significant. Consider its widespread use in photojournalism: Goldberg elevates the seemingly mundane to a commentary on marginalized lives and the economics shaping those lives. Note also how he doesn't shy away from including the materials of that life, the cigarette and lighter on the table. This speaks to consumption and the cycle of need. Do you notice anything in the production of the photograph itself which indicates intentionality? Editor: The lighting is interesting; the sharp contrast brings out details while still obscuring some parts of his face. Curator: Precisely! Goldberg uses that control to reveal and conceal, implicating us in the gaze, forcing us to confront not just Dave's situation but also our own role in the structures that created it. This piece is far more than a simple photograph; it's a deliberate artistic engagement with materials and socio-economic power. Editor: I see it so differently now! Thanks for helping me look past just the image to the means of its making and its larger message. Curator: Absolutely! Thinking materially opens up many readings.