[Grand Army Review, Washington, D.C.] 1865

Editor: Here we have Alexander Gardner’s gelatin silver print, "Grand Army Review, Washington, D.C." taken in 1865. It depicts a parade of soldiers on horseback. There's a real sense of muted celebration in this photograph, but it is partially masked by a solemn atmosphere. How should we read into this piece from a materialist point of view? Curator: Let’s think about the materiality of the photograph itself, then. What was involved in the process of creating it? A cumbersome camera, fragile glass plates, dangerous chemicals. Gardner wasn’t just documenting a parade, he was engaging in a very physical act of labor. Editor: Right. And the resulting image... it's not pristine. There are imperfections, blurring, damage around the edges. Does that speak to a specific context? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the context. This parade happens at the close of the Civil War. These imperfections are not mistakes; they become evidence of a quick and arduous process documenting this crucial moment in history. Also, gelatin silver prints? Think about the industry that produced them, the labor involved, and their subsequent role as consumer goods, circulated and consumed to shape public opinion. What stories are told in this materiality? Editor: I hadn't thought about it like that, viewing the photograph as this product of industry as well. I guess it makes sense because you consider how widespread they were to inform the public. Curator: Exactly. And think about who had access to these images. Consumption shapes meaning. Consider the power dynamics inherent in documenting and distributing images of war. It forces you to question whose stories get told, and from what perspective. Editor: So, we move beyond just seeing a picture of soldiers. We start to think about labor, production, and consumption. Curator: Precisely. It allows us to explore how this image functions as both a historical document and a constructed artifact embedded in complex social and economic systems. Editor: Thanks! That makes me appreciate Gardner’s piece, and photography, much more.