Untitled (group portrait of men in office) c. 1940

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Harris & Ewing, a group portrait of men in an office. It's hard to ignore the distressed state of the print itself. What do you make of it? Curator: I see a fascinating artifact, one that invites us to consider the labor involved in both its creation and its survival. The photographic process itself, the paper, the chemicals, the darkroom - all materials shaped by human hands and subject to decay. Editor: So, the damage is part of the story? Curator: Absolutely. The photograph’s current state speaks volumes about its history as a material object, its journey through time, and the conditions it has endured. It challenges the notion of a pristine, objective record. What do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered the labor involved in maintaining these pieces. Thanks for pointing that out!