Untitled (Rome) 1978

Curator: Bill Dane's photograph, "Untitled (Rome)," presents us with a black and white view of ancient ruins juxtaposed against modern city life. What strikes you first about this image? Editor: The melancholic stillness. Those fallen columns, the sheer weight of history... it feels like time itself is a ruin. Curator: Dane often explored the poetics of everyday life within historically charged settings. Notice the figures in the foreground—they invite a reflection on contemporary existence amidst historical grandeur. Editor: Right. Like we're all just passing through, leaving our own faint marks on the landscape before we, too, become part of the antique echo. Curator: Indeed, it compels one to consider the public role of memory and how we engage with our past. Editor: Which maybe is why it haunts me. This city will outlive us all, and that's both beautiful and terrifying. Curator: A powerful observation; thank you. Editor: Thanks. I need a gelato.