Cultuurafdeeling 1931 - 1934

Editor: Here we have "Cultuurafdeeling," a photographic print from between 1931 and 1934 by Atelier Kurkdjian. It feels very still and orderly. It’s a picture of rows and rows of desks in an office setting. What aspects of the work strike you? Curator: It's fascinating how the image focuses on the workspace itself. Look at the desks, the piles of paper, the utilitarian design. It’s a snapshot of labor, of the sheer physical act of working. Consider the social context—the image captures an office culture of a particular time and place. How do you think the photographer views labor practices in this work? Editor: That’s interesting. It does seem like labor is at the core of the picture, even though there aren't any closeups on any people. It does feel less focused on individual accomplishment, and more about the collective act of labor, perhaps? Curator: Exactly. Think about the photographer’s own labor in creating this image. Photography as a material process – the use of specific equipment, the development of the print – it all speaks to a certain kind of production and consumption, not just what's *in* the frame, but the *making* of the frame. Editor: So you're thinking about the physical act of photography itself? The machinery of image making, too? Curator: Precisely. And who this photographer was. I think thinking about how it all intersects will inform how one responds to it. Does thinking about that influence your read of the photo at all? Editor: It really does! It reminds me that even seemingly objective records can be quite deliberate. It’s fascinating how focusing on materials and process can reshape our understanding. Thanks for the insight. Curator: My pleasure. It’s all about interrogating what's there, and how it got there.