Cape Cod 1972

Editor: Here we have Harry Callahan's "Cape Cod," a gelatin silver print. The composition, the contrast of light and shadow, give it a stark, almost isolating feel. What are your thoughts on how the materials and process contribute to its meaning? Curator: The gelatin silver print was a very reproducible medium. Callahan's choice speaks to the accessibility of image-making. How might the mass-producible nature of photography challenge notions of artistic labor and value here? Editor: That’s interesting, I hadn’t considered the idea of mass production in relation to photography as art. Curator: Consider also the social context of leisure, reflected in the subject matter. The beach, the boats – how do these elements reflect on post-war American culture and consumption? Editor: I see what you mean. It definitely provides more food for thought about how we value art. Curator: Precisely! Thinking about the material conditions and cultural contexts opens up new ways to consider the meaning of everyday images.