Untitled (San Francisco from Telegraph Hill) c. 1925

Curator: This evocative photograph, titled *Untitled (San Francisco from Telegraph Hill)*, is by William Edward Dassonville. Editor: It's a lovely study in contrasts, isn't it? The stark, silhouetted trees against that hazy cityscape create a real sense of depth and distance. Curator: Dassonville's interest in pictorialism is clear. We see the use of soft focus, which was popular for creating an atmospheric effect, mimicking painting, and elevating photography to high art. What kind of materials do we know he used? Editor: Well, the production of platinum prints like this one was a high-skill process. The paper was coated with iron salts and platinum, resulting in this nuanced tonal range. Its permanence, unlike other printing methods, allowed for its appreciation in the fine art market. Curator: And that very permanence is what enables us to study it today, understanding how San Francisco's image was being shaped and presented. The Telegraph Hill location is significant; it’s a vantage point, offering a constructed view of the city, not just a representation, but an ideal. Editor: I hadn't thought about the vantage point in that way. It definitely shifts my perspective on the whole image.