S. Side of Mass. Ave. Junction of Main St., Lafayette Sq. 13 - 1899

Editor: This is Paul Rowell's "S. Side of Mass. Ave. Junction of Main St., Lafayette Sq." It's a striking photograph, inverted, showing what looks like a street corner. What strikes you about it? Curator: The inversion, while perhaps a technical artifact, speaks volumes. It flips our understanding of power and visibility in public spaces. Who is rendered visible, and whose stories are cast into shadow? Consider the architecture: how does it reflect class divisions and access to resources at the time? Editor: That’s fascinating! So, you see the inversion as more than just a mistake? Curator: Precisely. It challenges us to critically examine the narratives embedded within seemingly straightforward depictions of urban life. What histories are we not seeing? What voices are muted? Editor: I never thought about it that way! It gives the image a whole new layer of meaning. Curator: Exactly. It's a reminder to question whose perspectives dominate our understanding of history and public space.