Untitled (group of men) after 1910

Editor: This is an untitled photograph, "group of men," by Lewis Hine. The grayscale and the men's clothing give a historical feel. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: I immediately consider the means of production: Hine's photography was instrumental in documenting labor practices. How did the accessibility of photography at the time shape social reform? Editor: I hadn't considered the impact of photography itself as a tool! So, the photograph captures the reality of labor conditions at the time? Curator: Precisely. It shows how images could be consumed to affect social change. These men's clothes, their expressions – what do they tell us about their labor and social standing? Editor: Their clothes seem worn, and their expressions are serious. It gives a sense of the working class experience and how that was captured and distributed. Curator: Exactly. And by focusing on that materiality, we gain insight into the social and economic realities of the time. It's not just art, it's evidence.