Untitled (wrecked back of car) c. 1920s

Curator: John Deusing's photograph, "Untitled (wrecked back of car)," presents us with a damaged vehicle, rendered in a striking black and white negative. Editor: My first impression is one of haunting fragility. The negative exposure gives it an ethereal, almost ghostly quality. Curator: This photograph, housed at the Harvard Art Museums, prompts us to consider the narratives of progress, technology and societal impact. The wrecked car embodies a critique of consumer culture and its potential for destruction. Editor: And it certainly makes me think about the precariousness of the American Dream, specifically the automobile as a symbol of freedom and status, now brutally undone. What stories of class, race, or gender are embedded within this wreckage? Curator: Indeed, this image allows us to reflect on the power dynamics at play in society. It also invites us to question the costs of our reliance on automobiles and their impact on our lives. Editor: This photograph leaves us contemplating not only the physical damage, but also the social and historical contexts that shaped its existence. Curator: Precisely. It encourages reflection on the fragility of both material objects and the larger narratives they represent.