[Crane by water in Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Editor: This evocative photograph, "Crane by water in Lübeck," attributed to Laurence Feininger, captures a crane silhouetted against the water. It's strikingly industrial, almost oppressive in its starkness. What can you tell me about how its construction might inform its message? Curator: Considering the means of production inherent in the subject matter itself - the crane as a tool of labor, alongside the photographic process - draws our attention to materiality. How does the photographic medium itself, its grain and contrast, contribute to our understanding of labor and industry here? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't thought about the photograph as a material object adding to that narrative. Curator: It prompts questions about the value we place on industrial output versus the human labor involved. Acknowledging the materials and methods reveals underlying social structures. I learned something new! Editor: Me too! It makes me appreciate the layers of meaning in even a seemingly simple image.