Untitled (cows in field) c. 1950

Curator: Here we have an untitled photograph by Harry Annas, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. It presents a gathering of cows in a field, captured in a seemingly simple, straightforward manner. Editor: There's a desolate sort of beauty to it. The sky presses down, almost suffocating, on this field filled with ghostly cows. It feels… lonely. Curator: The image, given its photographic nature, inherently speaks to the means of production. The gelatin silver process, the Kodak safety film, and the labor involved in documenting this agricultural scene invite considerations of material culture and photographic technology. Editor: Absolutely, but that bleak sky! It nearly eclipses the animals, turning them into mere shapes. It’s as though Annas is showing us not just cows, but the weight of the world. Curator: I agree, the composition certainly emphasizes the relationship between the environment and the animals, reflecting perhaps on industrial agriculture of the time. Editor: It does make you think, doesn’t it? Art isn't just about beauty; sometimes it's about feeling the stark reality of existence. Curator: Precisely, and examining the processes behind that starkness can enrich our understanding. Editor: Well, it certainly has given me a fresh appreciation for the humble cow!