Grays Hall, Harvard Yard 1861 - 1866

Editor: This is an interesting photograph by George Kendall Warren of Grays Hall in Harvard Yard. The bare trees in the foreground create such strong lines, almost obscuring the building. What do you see in the composition that stands out to you? Curator: The formal arrangement is striking. The photographer’s strategic placement of the central tree, its branches echoing the building's rectilinear form, demonstrates a conscious manipulation of space and shape. Note also the oval vignette, likely created in the darkroom, which further isolates the architectural subject. What function do you think the shape serves here? Editor: I guess it adds to the sense of formality, almost like a portrait. I hadn’t thought about it that way before. Curator: Precisely. It elevates the building to the level of a subject worthy of meticulous study. Editor: Thanks, I'll remember that.