Johnson's Mill, Petersburg, Virginia 1865

Editor: So, here we have Timothy O'Sullivan's photograph, "Johnson's Mill, Petersburg, Virginia." It's a landscape, but something about the figures gives it a somber, almost watchful feeling. What do you see in this piece that speaks to its historical context? Curator: The stillness, perhaps? O'Sullivan's images weren't just about capturing a place, but a feeling. Think about what's *not* shown—the recent battles, the loss. It's a landscape marked by conflict. Do you think the figures seem separate from the mill, or part of the same scene? Editor: I see what you mean. They seem isolated, like ghosts among the debris. It is heavy, but reflective. Curator: Exactly! It's a quiet sort of memorial.