Railroad Underpass, Wantaugh c. 1979

Editor: So this is Eric Baden’s "Railroad Underpass, Wantaugh," a black and white photograph. It feels stark, almost industrial. What do you make of the subject matter and the way it's presented? Curator: The image reveals the means of its own making. The concrete and steel are not just subject, but material realities reflecting labor, industry, and perhaps decay. How does this aesthetic choice challenge traditional ideas of beauty or artistic value, focusing instead on the mundane materiality of urban life? Editor: That makes sense. I was thinking it was just a picture of an underpass. Now I see the commentary on urban spaces. Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to consider the social and economic forces shaping our environment and artistic expression. Editor: I didn't realize how much the materials themselves spoke until you pointed that out. Thanks!