Untitled (attempts at shoeing a mule) c. 20th century

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (attempts at shoeing a mule)," by the American Steel & Wire Co., shows a tense moment. The mule looks like it's having none of it! What's your take on why they captured this scene? Curator: It’s like a freeze-frame of labor, isn’t it? The company captures the moment of struggle, highlighting their product’s role in taming the animal. It’s about control, industry, and perhaps even a little dark humor at the mule’s expense. Editor: So, it's promotional, but also kind of… raw? Curator: Precisely. The photograph allows us to witness the very real difficulties of a bygone era. It's a fascinating glimpse into a moment of resistance within a larger narrative of industrial progress. Editor: I hadn't considered the mule's resistance, just the humor. Thanks for the insight! Curator: My pleasure! It’s often in those small moments of friction that history reveals itself.