A Burial Party, Cold Harbor, Virginia 1865

Curator: John Reekie's photographic print, "A Burial Party, Cold Harbor, Virginia," captures a haunting scene. What strikes you first? Editor: The sheer starkness, I think. It's not just death; it's the casual, almost indifferent, way the bodies are being handled that really sticks with you. Curator: The photograph shows African American soldiers collecting the remains of Union soldiers after the battle. Reekie’s work really highlights the role of formerly enslaved men in the war's aftermath. Editor: Absolutely, and that's the painful irony, isn't it? These men, only recently freed, are now tasked with this grim work. How do you even begin to process that? Curator: It speaks volumes about the labor assigned to Black soldiers, and the visual contrast is stark. It pushes us to remember whose bodies were often considered disposable. Editor: It does prompt a deeper reflection, doesn't it? It's more than just a historical record; it's a visceral experience that forces us to grapple with the war's complexities. Curator: Indeed, its starkness invites a confrontation with the cost of conflict and the uneven burdens of history. Editor: That’s it, I think. It really leaves you in a quiet, contemplative space, pondering the cost of it all.