Untitled (man speaking at outdoor public podium draped in U.S. flags) c. 1950

Curator: This compelling silver gelatin print, taken by Harry Annas, captures a man speaking at an outdoor podium draped in U.S. flags. Editor: It's striking; the stark monochrome lends a sense of historical distance, almost a feeling of propaganda. Curator: The image lacks a specific date, making its historical context open to interpretation. The flags, of course, speak to patriotism, but the speaker's message and the audience's reception remain ambiguous. Editor: Exactly. Is this a unifying speech or one that serves to further entrench societal divides? The absence of context forces us to consider the power of rhetoric itself, and who has access to that power. Curator: Indeed. The photograph’s composition places the speaker above the crowd, reinforced by the visual weight of the American flags. Editor: It leaves me pondering the complex relationships between nationalism, power, and who gets to define the narrative. Curator: A powerful, albeit unsettling, piece for reflecting on public discourse.