Untitled (West Allis businesses) c. 1920s

Editor: This is John Deusing's "Untitled (West Allis businesses)," date unknown. It's a black and white photo of a commercial building. The negative effect is interesting. What stands out to you about it? Curator: I'm drawn to the layering of signage and the implied labor behind each business advertised. Consider the materiality of those signs. How were they made? What does that tell us about local economies and available resources at the time? Editor: So, you see the image as less about the architecture and more about the economic activity? Curator: Precisely. It prompts questions about consumption, production, and the unseen labor that sustains these businesses. It moves beyond just a building’s facade. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding how photography captures the everyday. Curator: Indeed, it’s a document of material culture and its influence.