Lowell House, Harvard University c. 1931 - 1932

Curator: This is Rudolph Ruzicka's "Lowell House, Harvard University", a print that, interestingly, functioned as a holiday card. Editor: Oh, I like this! There's a quiet stillness to it, a sort of hushed reverence, like a secret winter scene. Curator: The technique here, likely wood engraving, speaks to the labor involved in image production and dissemination at the time. Consider the social function of this card as a piece of ephemera circulating within a specific social sphere. Editor: It does feel very crafted, carefully considered. The weight of the architecture against that spindly tree—a lovely tension. It's more than just a building; it's a feeling of place, isn't it? Curator: Precisely. And notice how the Latin inscription above the image ties into the tradition of elite education, a marker of class and privilege. Editor: A beautiful reminder that even the most formal structures hold intimate, personal stories. Curator: Indeed, a potent blend of public image and private sentiment, wouldn't you agree?