Untitled (brick building, Gadsby's Tavern) 1937

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Harris & Ewing, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It captures Gadsby’s Tavern, a brick building that exudes a sense of aged solidity. Editor: It’s quite striking, actually. The texture of the brick almost seems to ripple, and the way the light catches the windows… it feels almost ghostly. Curator: Gadsby’s Tavern was a significant social and political hub, particularly during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, hosting figures like George Washington. It was a vital space for civic engagement and community building. Editor: The cars parked along the street place this image in a later time, though. It is intriguing how the materiality of the tavern connects us to its past, the bricks themselves witnessing history. Curator: Absolutely. The image highlights the enduring nature of institutions and architecture. Editor: And also, how changing times find ways to coexist with legacy. Curator: I find the building's stoic presence quite remarkable. Editor: It's a fascinating intersection of material history and its continued social life.