Photograph Album c. 1936

This is a drawing of a photograph album, made by Manuel G. Runyan. Look closely, and you can see the attention to detail. The binding appears to be made of leather, with gilt embellishments, clasps, and what appear to be small pearls at the corners. Note the thickness of the album, each page within likely intended to display a photographic print. The work shows the value placed on design, and the artistry and craftsmanship required to produce luxury goods. Runyan has also included design studies, showing the ornamentation that could be applied to an object like this. In its time, an album of this kind was no mere container. It would have been understood as a bespoke creation, intended for those who could afford to consume in this way. Think about the place of photography in social life, both then and now, and the layers of care and craft that have gone into its making.