Untitled (receiving line at party) 1964

This gelatin silver print, Untitled (receiving line at party), comes to us from the hand and eye of Robert Burian. Burian's photography captures an event frozen in time, fixing a moment of social ritual. The photographic process itself is critical here. The gelatin silver print, a darkroom process, involves coating paper with light-sensitive emulsion. Light then etches an image onto the paper, and the material transforms into a photograph through chemical development. The high contrast that comes from the negative exposure lends an eerie quality to the print, highlighting textures and social surfaces. The photograph becomes a record, bearing witness to social interactions, and capturing not just the appearance of the party but also the labor, resources, and technologies involved in image-making. The photograph is a compelling reminder that artworks are made of materials with social and historical contexts. Paying attention to these production methods allows us to consider the broader implications of class and social life.