Gropius Residence, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1938 c. 1938

Curator: This photograph by Paul Davis shows the Gropius Residence, built in Lincoln, Massachusetts, in 1938. Editor: It feels so austere, almost unsettling. The geometric precision against the bare trees creates a stark contrast. Curator: Absolutely, it’s a deliberate statement. Gropius brought Bauhaus principles to America, and this house became a model for modern living. It challenges traditional notions of domesticity, doesn’t it? Editor: It does. And seeing it documented in this photograph, knowing its role in disseminating those Bauhaus ideas, it feels like a very powerful assertion of a new architectural vision. Curator: It really is. I think what I'm taking away is the way architecture is influenced and shapes our interactions with the physical world, and our own identities, too. Editor: Yes, and for me, seeing this photograph has made me think about the role of photography in promoting certain visions of architecture that serve as both homes and statements.