Untitled (used car sale) 1935

Curator: This gelatin silver print, "Untitled (used car sale)," comes from the Hamblin Studio collection. It captures a promotional event, its dimensions roughly 20 by 25 centimeters. Editor: It has an unsettling carnival-esque vibe with all those indistinct faces. The banner proclaiming "Big Used Car Sale" feels ironically bleak. Curator: The photo implicates the historical relationship between consumer culture and social gatherings. The composition emphasizes the sheer number of participants, highlighting mass consumption. Editor: I can almost hear the cacophony of honking horns and hawkers' calls. It feels like a desperate attempt to manufacture joy. Curator: Indeed, the materiality of the print speaks to the standardization of photographic processes and its accessibility in promoting commercial activities. Editor: There’s something hauntingly melancholic about a used car sale being equated with a carnival of belonging. Makes you wonder where all those cars are now. Curator: A stark reminder that the engine of consumerism never stops turning. Editor: I think I'll stick to walking for now, thank you very much.