Bridgehampton Senior 1979

Editor: Here we have Elaine Mayes' photograph, "Bridgehampton Senior". I’m struck by the casual, everyday quality of the image. What are your initial thoughts on this portrait? Curator: It's crucial to look at the materials. The photograph itself, its chemical composition, the labor involved in its production and distribution. The subject's clothing—a Lacoste polo shirt—speaks to consumerism and class aspirations. Editor: Interesting. So, you see the image as reflecting broader economic and social structures? Curator: Precisely. The photograph captures not just an individual, but a moment in a network of production, consumption, and representation, all captured in that specific photographic emulsion. Editor: That shifts my understanding completely. I was only focused on the person. Curator: Good. Considering the materiality allows us to go beyond surface level and into the larger systems at play.