Untitled (pigeons) c. 1970

Editor: So, this is Michael Mathers' "Untitled (pigeons)," a photograph from the Harvard Art Museums. It feels like a fleeting moment, this burst of wings against the hulking train. What do you see in it? Curator: It’s a dance, isn't it? This tension between the industrial and the natural, frozen in monochrome. The Santa Fe train, a symbol of progress, looms over this chaotic ballet of birds. The dust motes almost look like stars. Editor: A dance of contrasts. I like that. The freedom of the birds against the weight of the train. Curator: And the photographer, there, capturing it all. It makes me wonder, what else did they notice that day? Thanks for sharing. Editor: Thanks for bringing it to life. I see so much more now.