[Interior View of the Ballroom for Lincoln's Second Inaugural Ball] 1865

Editor: Here we have Alexander Gardner's photograph "[Interior View of the Ballroom for Lincoln's Second Inaugural Ball]" taken in 1865. It's a gelatin silver print. What strikes me is the emptiness. All that elaborate decoration for a space that seems almost… deserted. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the labour. Think of the materials: the fabric for those immense drapes, the wood and craftsmanship for the benches and the hall’s architectural details, and the labour invested in constructing and decorating this space. How were those materials sourced, transported, and transformed? Editor: That’s a good point. I hadn't considered that. It feels removed from the gaiety of the ball itself. What statement was the artist trying to make in isolating this hall? Curator: Precisely! Consider the historical context. This photograph was taken right at the end of the Civil War. Gardner, known for his unflinching war photography, presents a space of celebration, yes, but also one built upon and perhaps haunted by the materials of conflict. Think about where these materials were manufactured; what kind of labor went into building such a majestic and patriotic-themed ballroom, and was this labor fairly compensated? Editor: So, even the materials chosen contribute to the narrative. The opulence might be a way of signalling a return to normalcy after the war. Curator: Exactly. And don't forget the photographic process itself. A gelatin silver print required specific materials and a skilled photographer to produce. Photography was evolving but still labour intensive at this time. It raises the question of who had access to these technologies and whose stories were being told, and whose were being left out? Editor: Thinking about it in terms of labor and materials, I see how much the photograph speaks to the social and economic forces at play, beyond just a simple record of a ballroom. Curator: Precisely, it reveals layers of production and consumption often overlooked when we focus solely on the "artistic" intention. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider all those hands that contributed to this photograph, from the manufacturers of materials to the hands of Gardner and his crew. Thank you.