Standbeelden van Joseph en Hyrum Smith, grondleggers van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen-kerk, ofwel de Mormonen, Salt Lake City 1924 - 1926

Curator: This photograph captures the statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, founders of the Latter-day Saints church, taken in Salt Lake City sometime between 1924 and 1926. The photograph, titled "Standbeelden van Joseph en Hyrum Smith, grondleggers van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen-kerk, ofwel de Mormonen, Salt Lake City" presents these figures in a very formal manner. Editor: Yes, the image certainly strikes a tone of officialdom and reverence. It feels very static. The light almost flattens the figures, and the building looming behind adds to the sense of institutional power. I’m drawn to consider the specific materiality of these statues, as it would speak to the socio-economic status of the community that commissioned the work. Curator: Precisely. The choice of bronze, if they are indeed bronze, carries significant weight. It reflects an investment of resources, symbolizing permanence and historical importance. Considering this piece through the lens of photographic representation and monumentality is helpful. How did images like this one shape public perception of Mormonism? Editor: I agree that photographic technology shapes reception, yet my immediate thought revolves around the production of belief systems. How did public monuments become pivotal tools in solidifying religious authority? Where does the agency lie, with artist or commissioning body? How do site specific artworks shape both civic identity and public space? Curator: It prompts thoughts about how we memorialize leaders and events. The backdrop of the building further cements the church’s position. These statues, caught in a documentary image, were tools of placemaking and memory shaping, weren’t they? Editor: Absolutely. In turn, understanding this artwork involves situating its presence in a historical narrative. It requires grappling with the social context that produced it. To what extent were Mormon sculptors favored and what impact did external influences have on style and process? Curator: It leaves me pondering the continuing influence of these statues. Even today, as representations of authority. Editor: Indeed. And as reflections of how institutions utilize public art to broadcast their ideals.