Untitled (Lee's Esso Grill, interior, pinball machine) 1949

Editor: This photo by Hamblin Studio, "Untitled (Lee's Esso Grill, interior, pinball machine)", captures a seemingly ordinary scene. The pinball machine, though, feels like a portal, promising escape. What do you see in it? Curator: The pinball machine, yes, it's a powerful symbol. It represents not just entertainment, but also aspiration and chance. Consider its placement amidst tires and batteries – a juxtaposition of leisure and the necessities of the road, reflecting a culture on the move. What kind of continuity do you see between play and labour? Editor: I guess both require a certain kind of attention and persistence. It's interesting how the mundane and the fantastical collide in this image. Curator: Indeed. The everyday is always ripe with symbolic potential. We remember through these images.