Races, Immigration: United States. Immigration to the United States c. 1902

Curator: This print, "Races, Immigration: United States. Immigration to the United States," by Norris Peters Co., presents data on immigration patterns. It’s quite fascinating how information can be visually encoded. Editor: It gives me the shivers, all those lines and borders, mapping displacement and change! It makes me wonder about the stories within those bars and the lives behind those places. Curator: The print uses both a map and a bar graph to illustrate the “centres” of European immigration to the US, likely intended to inform or persuade a specific audience at a particular time. Editor: The stark contrast between the map's gentle curves and the graph's rigid structure is so striking. Curator: Absolutely, and considering the printing process—the labor involved in engraving and mass production—it speaks volumes about the value assigned to this information. Editor: This piece is a poignant reminder that data isn’t just numbers; it is also made up of human stories. Curator: Indeed, a study in contrasts, in the art of recording history through immigration trends. Editor: Yes, it's a powerful way to see the flow of people and the making of a nation.