Untitled (two men with turkeys in field) c. 1950

Curator: The immediate impression is stark: a gathering of birds, almost an army, confronting us. Editor: This evocative image comes to us from Harry Annas, it's titled "Untitled (two men with turkeys in field)," and its dimensions are roughly 4 by 5 inches. It resides in the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: The uniformity, the sheer number, it plays on our primal fears of being overwhelmed, doesn't it? Birds often represent omens, communities. Editor: It makes me think about labor, agriculture, and the photographic documentation of rural life that emerged at the time. These images had a role in shaping public perception. Curator: Right, how we project our needs and fears onto the natural world. It's a powerful, if unsettling, reminder of our interconnectedness. Editor: It's a compelling piece for considering the historical context surrounding images of labor.