Untitled (men working with carcasses in Kreuz met market) 1950

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Harry Annas, depicting men working with carcasses in the Kreuzberg market. Editor: The stark composition immediately evokes a sense of industry and also something slightly macabre. Curator: Absolutely, the image shows the processes of labor, raw materials transformed into commodities, hinting at the social contexts surrounding food production and consumption. Editor: The carcasses themselves, rendered in such detail, are more than just meat; they symbolize mortality and our complex relationship with sustenance. The market setting adds layers of cultural and historical significance, reflecting local traditions. Curator: The photograph certainly captures the physical labor involved, underscoring the materiality of the work and the workers’ relationship to the environment. Editor: The stark black and white palette intensifies the emotional impact, reminding us that this scene, though specific to a time and place, taps into universal themes of life, death, and the human condition. Curator: It makes one consider the role of marketplaces in shaping our societies. Editor: Indeed, and the symbolic weight tied to our most fundamental needs.