Gropius Residence, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1938 c. 1938

Curator: This is Paul Davis's photograph, "Gropius Residence, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1938," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's struck me as a rather functional, unassuming structure. Editor: It certainly is, but I'm drawn to the interplay between the man-made structure and the surrounding greenery; it almost seems like nature is trying to reclaim the space. Davis captured this tension so well. Curator: This photo captures a pivotal moment when modern architectural ideas, like those championed by Gropius, were starting to take root in America. Think about the materials that went into constructing this home. Editor: Right. It's also worth considering how the house's design challenged traditional notions of domestic space and living, and how that was received by the public at the time. Curator: Absolutely, and reflecting on the labor involved in creating such a sleek, modern home in the late 1930s is essential to understanding its place in cultural history. Editor: I hadn't considered that! This work really does speak volumes about the cultural and architectural shifts of the era.