Dane Hall c. 1858

Curator: This is a photograph titled "Dane Hall," captured by John Adams Whipple. Editor: It’s quite striking. There’s a weightiness, a somber mood evoked by the sepia tones and imposing architecture. Curator: Indeed. The building's columns echo classical ideals, hinting at justice and order, especially significant considering its function as a law school at Harvard University. Editor: I’m more interested in the labor behind it all. Think about the daguerreotype process, the painstaking work of preparing the plates, the exposure time, and the skill required to capture such detail. Curator: And consider the symbolism. A law school photographed in this way suggests a kind of timeless authority and enduring legacy. Editor: For me, the real story is in the making. The material reality of early photography meeting the lofty ideals of legal education. Curator: A fascinating intersection of method and meaning. Editor: Absolutely. This image leaves me contemplating the evolution of both photography and education, and the labor embedded within.