Untitled (the Cabildo courtyard, New Orleans) c. 1935

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by C. Bennette Moore, showing the Cabildo courtyard in New Orleans. It measures roughly 13 by 18 centimeters. Editor: The high-contrast negative creates an eerie, almost dreamlike quality. The textures of the foliage and brick are so striking. Curator: Yes, the material presence is quite captivating. Looking at the courtyard, I am drawn to how it signifies a space of leisure and consumption for a specific social class in New Orleans. Editor: I see the composition more as a study in light and shadow. The interplay between the architectural forms and the organic shapes of the plants creates a visually compelling arrangement. Curator: But it also invites us to consider the labor involved in maintaining such a space, the social structures that enabled its existence. Editor: Perhaps. For me, it’s primarily the formal elements – the balance, the contrast – that resonate. It's a beautifully constructed image. Curator: Ultimately, it is a complex work, reflecting both aesthetic choices and historical realities. Editor: Indeed. It invites us to see beyond the surface, regardless of the lens through which we view it.