Untitled (two ment in hats and coats standing by new foundation construction) c. 1940

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (two men in hats and coats standing by new foundation construction)" by John Deusing, captures a construction site. It's striking how raw the materials appear. What does this image tell you about the process of building? Curator: Notice the negative image. It foregrounds the raw materiality – the wood, the earth. The choice to document this process, rather than the finished product, speaks to a focus on labor and the transformation of resources. What do these men represent in the context of this construction? Editor: Perhaps they are overseeing the project, indicating a hierarchy of labor? Curator: Precisely. The image captures not just a building's foundation, but the social foundations upon which it rests. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It’s interesting to think about the power dynamics embedded within a seemingly simple construction photo.