Montauk 1979

Editor: So, this is "Montauk" by Eric Baden, a black and white photograph. There's construction, raw materials like bricks, and a sense of starkness. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a commentary on the process of building, literally and figuratively. Look at the layers of material—the fence, the stacked bricks, the raw earth. It speaks to labor, the making of a place, and the consumption of resources inherent in development. What kind of labor do you think is involved in constructing this place? Editor: That's a great point, I hadn't considered the human element. Now I see it as a record of the labor and materials needed to build even a simple structure. Curator: Exactly. It prompts us to consider the relationship between raw materials, labor, and the finished product, challenging traditional notions of art's value in relation to the work behind it. Editor: I've never thought about photography that way! I will look at photos from another perspective from now on. Curator: That's what art history is all about!