J.M. Brunswick and Balke Company Lumber Dryer, Chicago, Illinois c. 1883

Editor: Here we have a mixed-media drawing in ink called "J.M. Brunswick and Balke Company Lumber Dryer, Chicago, Illinois" created around 1883 by Adler and Sullivan. It looks like a technical drawing or blueprint. What can you tell me about it? Curator: As a materialist, what immediately grabs me is the physical nature of this document. Look closely. The aging of the paper, the hand-drawn lines, the evidence of its creation as a utilitarian object, all speak to a particular moment in industrial history. This isn't just an architectural drawing; it's a record of production. What materials would have been used in this construction and how are these being used? Editor: You’re right, it definitely makes me think about labor. Lumber drying seems so simple, but clearly requires specific conditions and structures. How did this blueprint function within that production process? Curator: It served as a set of instructions of course, reflecting not only design, but also cost and construction limitations. Consider Brunswick and Balke's product line: billiards tables and related woodworking. How does knowing this impact your viewing? Does it connect ‘high art’ and commerce? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I was so focused on it as a drawing; I didn’t really consider the broader context of what was being made and how it relates to other historical construction processes of that time. Curator: Exactly! By acknowledging materiality and production, we can really appreciate the full breadth of this document and the process through which things were created and consumed back then. What do you think we can learn by paying attention to it? Editor: I’ll definitely pay closer attention to process, especially when thinking about architectural plans! Curator: Agreed! Next time, maybe we’ll consider what role drawings play in shaping labor.