Arthur D. Hill, Lawyer 1916

Editor: Here we have John H. Garo's photograph, "Arthur D. Hill, Lawyer." I'm immediately drawn to the sitter’s cigarette, such a casual, yet powerful, object. How does the materiality of the photograph itself – the paper, the chemicals – inform your understanding of this work? Curator: The photographic process is key. Consider the labor involved in creating this gelatin silver print. The chemicals, the darkroom, the photographer’s skill… it all speaks to a specific social and economic context. Editor: So, it's less about *who* Arthur D. Hill was and more about *how* this image came to be? Curator: Precisely. The means of production are central. It challenges our notions of portraiture and the consumption of images. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. I’ll definitely look at photography differently now. Curator: Indeed, it pushes us to see beyond the surface and delve into the processes that bring art into existence.