Untitled (Berkeley) 1982

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Bill Dane, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It shows a couple embracing, maybe backstage at a show. What catches my eye is the almost documentary feel and how the backdrop contrasts with their clothing textures. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The beauty here lies in the mundane, doesn't it? Dane's choice of black and white film, the material reality of the photographic print itself, points to a specific moment in the history of image production and consumption. How does understanding the labor involved in creating such an image shift your perception? Editor: I guess I hadn't thought about the labor, or the materials involved in creating this photograph. Thinking about it now, it does add another layer to the image. Thank you! Curator: Absolutely! By recognizing the process and materiality, we move beyond a simple depiction to an understanding of the social and economic context that shaped its creation.