Untitled (L. A. County Museum) 1983

Curator: This gelatin silver print, taken by Bill Dane, is titled "Untitled (L. A. County Museum)." It presents a high-angle view of a city, perhaps Los Angeles, stretching towards the horizon. Editor: Wow, there's something almost dreamlike about it. The hazy sky and the intricate cityscape below—it feels like looking into someone's memory of a place rather than the place itself. Curator: The photographic process itself—the choice of black and white, the graininess—certainly contributes to that sense of nostalgia. Consider how the absence of color emphasizes the geometric forms of the city. Editor: Absolutely, and it makes me wonder about Dane's intention. Was he trying to capture the urban landscape, or was he trying to evoke a feeling, an emotion related to place and memory? It's almost eerie. Curator: Dane often explored themes of displacement and alienation in his work, so it's plausible that this image reflects a critical view of urban development. The scale of the city dwarfing the individual. Editor: Interesting. I was just stuck on how incredibly moving a simple cityscape can be. It’s a poignant reminder of how even the most impersonal scenes can become intensely personal. Curator: Precisely, and how the personal intersects with broader social narratives. Editor: Well, that's given me a lot to think about.