Untitled (official meeting, Committee on Public Works) 1947

Curator: This photograph, taken by Harris & Ewing, captures an "official meeting, Committee on Public Works." It is a gelatin silver print. The dimensions are about 8 by 10 inches and is now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The photo certainly conveys a sense of formal power, even though we can't know the precise date. The monochrome and cavernous setting add to the stark, almost intimidating atmosphere. Curator: The room itself, though, speaks volumes. Note the chandelier, the busts, and the arrangement of the table--they are carefully constructed symbols of authority and order. Editor: Absolutely, and it begs the question: whose voices are missing from this visual representation of governance? The composition is compelling, but it's also a potent reminder of historical power dynamics. Curator: I find the symmetrical arrangement fascinating as well. The committee members are all arranged in an orderly semi-circle, implying stability. Editor: For me, that staged effect almost amplifies the sense of exclusion. It's a potent image. Curator: Indeed. It's a tableau of power, presented in a way that can be appreciated for both its aesthetic and its symbolic weight. Editor: Thank you. Reflecting on it, I’m left contemplating the responsibility we have to make spaces of power truly representative.