Maquette, page 4 1935 - 1944

Editor: This is Nathan Lerner's "Maquette, page 4," a collage composed of gelatin silver prints, made sometime between 1935 and 1944. The composition strikes me as quite formal, almost clinical in its presentation. What social critiques or hidden narratives do you find embedded in this work? Curator: I see it as an articulation of the relationship between the individual, knowledge, and institutional power. Consider the images: one, a close-up of a face obscured by a lens, and the other, a document referencing the Bauhaus and the "School of Design." What does it suggest to you when photography and documents collide in this way, especially within the historical context of rising authoritarianism and surveillance? Editor: It's like the document represents officialdom, an institution focused on "design" and principles. The obscured face hints at both revealing and concealing an individual's identity or perspective, particularly because the Bauhaus school referenced here was shut down due to Nazi pressures. Curator: Precisely. The lens acts as a filter, a means of controlling vision and interpretation. This resonates deeply with the period, where propaganda and the control of information were central to political power. Could this work be seen as Lerner's commentary on the way institutions frame our understanding and shape individual identities? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. The person’s gaze seems almost trapped by that lens, shaped by the knowledge disseminated. It almost feels as if they're pushing back. Curator: I agree, and it highlights the complexities of navigating power structures. By juxtaposing these elements, Lerner invites us to question how these forces intersect. Considering this, what further avenues for exploring this collage come to mind? Editor: Perhaps researching Lerner's own experience as an immigrant artist navigating those power dynamics could give some insight into his thinking, further clarifying how personal identity and expression find voice against powerful external influences. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about those additional contexts will really nuance our understanding. Editor: I didn't think of this work as so loaded, now I understand the relationship between knowledge and control.