Rebel Works in Front of Atlanta, Ga. No. 3 1864

Editor: This photograph, "Rebel Works in Front of Atlanta, Ga. No. 3," is by George Norman Barnard. It shows cannons in trenches, with tents visible in the distance. The texture of the earthworks is striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a stark representation of the material conditions of war. Consider the labor involved in building these earthworks, the production and transport of the cannons, the tents... It's all about material consumption fueling conflict. Editor: It makes you think about the sheer scale of resources needed. Curator: Exactly. And how the means of production shape the landscape and lives within it. We are seeing the material culture of war in plain sight. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It's more than just a historical image, it is also about the material processes. Curator: Indeed. And understanding those processes gives us a deeper understanding of the conflict itself.