Zigzag c. 1930

Editor: This is Sherril Schell's "Zigzag," a photograph in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. The architectural details are so striking. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The photograph's power lies in revealing the means of production and material reality of urban space. Look at the bricklaying, the repetitive window patterns, the sheer labor embedded in constructing these monumental forms. Editor: So you’re not as interested in the aesthetic choices? Curator: The aesthetic choices are inherently linked to the material conditions. The zigzag motif itself speaks to industrial processes, perhaps even electrical currents. It challenges any separation between "high" art and the everyday construction of our world. Editor: That’s a fascinating way to look at it; I see how the image makes us think about the labor behind the buildings. Curator: Indeed, and how those material processes shape our perception of urban life.