Untitled (car wreck) c. 1920s

Curator: This silver gelatin print by John Deusing, titled "Untitled (car wreck)," presents us with a stark image of vehicular destruction. The inverted tones create an eerie, ghostlike atmosphere. Editor: Absolutely. It's a powerful statement about the fragility of progress, of industrialization. One wonders about the socio-economic status of the car's owner, and the impact such an event would have had on their life and community. Curator: The materiality is critical here. The silver gelatin process itself, with its chemical reactions, mirrors the destructive forces visualized in the wrecked vehicle. Consider the labor involved in not only creating the car, but also in documenting its demise. Editor: That's interesting, how the artistic process echoes the depicted event. This image speaks volumes about risk, about the illusion of control within modern life, about the historical context of industrial accidents and accountability. Curator: It’s a poignant record of material failure. A stark contrast to the streamlined ideals of Fordism. Editor: Indeed, and reminds us that progress always comes at a cost, often unequally distributed. This image invites us to consider that cost.