Untitled (cars parked in front of building) c. 1940

Editor: This is John Deusing's "Untitled (cars parked in front of building)," a small black and white photograph. It feels like a study of texture—the brick of the building, the chrome of the cars. What do you see in this piece, considering its materials? Curator: I see a record of material culture—the building, the automobiles—and how they were produced, consumed, and circulated within a specific socio-economic context. The photograph itself is a material object, evidence of labor and technological processes. Editor: So, the image isn't just about the objects, but about how they came to be? Curator: Precisely. We must consider the extraction of raw materials, the factory labor involved in car production, the photographic process itself, and the distribution networks that made all of this possible. Considering the date would help us understand the specific conditions of production and consumption at that time. Editor: That's a good reminder to consider the historical conditions to help understand the piece! Curator: Indeed! Focusing on materials reveals so much about the art's relation to labor, technology, and economics.