Archeologische opgravingen in Hongarije 1928

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, "Archeologische opgravingen in Hongarije," from 1928, shows an archeological dig site. It's a pretty stark image. What social narratives can we unearth here, so to speak? Curator: The photo gives off an atmosphere of quiet labor. It invites questions about who is doing this work, what historical forces are compelling it, and for whom. Who owns the narrative being excavated? Editor: That’s a really interesting point! I hadn't considered the power dynamics involved. The archaeologists visible at the top – are they primarily Hungarian, or part of some international project? Whose version of history is being privileged here? Curator: Exactly! We should consider, also, what the effect of their being there might be. Does their work disrupt existing local connections to that land or even rewrite those histories? It’s a photograph, sure, but what social narratives were actively being reshaped through its very making? Editor: I’m also wondering what they might be digging *for*. Is this about nation-building, about claiming a heritage? Curator: The desire to locate a usable past often reflects a contemporary desire to assert legitimacy and authority, yes. This drive is very common in Europe during the interwar period. Whose past gets remembered – and whose is conveniently forgotten? Editor: So, it’s about more than just objective history. It's always about politics, too. Thanks! That perspective completely changes how I see the photograph. Curator: Indeed. By investigating the past, we expose how power operates in the present, through narratives that shape collective identity. Understanding this image then challenges us to reflect on our own relationship to history and excavation of all types.