Providence after 1962

Editor: This is Harry Callahan's photograph, "Providence," from an unknown date, residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The composition, with the mannequin and lingerie behind the glass, is striking. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Callahan often explored the everyday, turning mundane scenes into social commentary. How does the storefront display speak to the socio-economic landscape of Providence, Rhode Island, at the time? Editor: I see the stark contrast between the idealized form of the mannequin and the gritty reality reflected in the glass. Curator: Exactly! The reflections disrupt the pristine image, introducing elements of the city's texture and the lives of its inhabitants. It also comments on the objectification of women. The lingerie is presented as art. Editor: I never thought about it in that way, but I see the social critique much clearer now. Curator: Callahan’s genius lies in making us question these presented images and the culture that creates them.