Lausanne: Anglo-French meeting: Herriot, MacDonald, Bonnet, Germain-Martin, Chamberlain at Beau Rivage 1932

Curator: Here we have Erich Salomon’s photograph, “Lausanne: Anglo-French meeting," taken at the Beau Rivage. It captures Herriot, MacDonald, Bonnet, Germain-Martin, and Chamberlain in one frame. Editor: The density of the image initially struck me. It's not just the composition, but the weight of these figures, materially present in their dark suits. Curator: Yes, and their positioning around the table, a clear symbol of negotiation and power dynamics. Note how each figure projects a different emotional state. Editor: Interesting. I’m more drawn to the table itself. It's clearly crafted for this purpose, the papers almost props in the performance of diplomacy. Curator: I see the table as a site of ritual, almost an altar. Each participant brings to it their nation's ambitions, encoded in gestures, glances... Editor: True, but it's also literally a crafted object, likely commissioned, representing material wealth and the social structure that enabled this meeting. Curator: I find myself focusing on the psychological impact of such gatherings, the long shadows they cast in history. Editor: For me, it's more about the labor and resources—the paper, the suits, the architecture—all crucial for understanding the event's context. It's a fascinating image to consider.