Park Street Church, Boston, Massachusetts c. 20th century

Editor: This is Otto Frederick Langmann’s drawing of the Park Street Church in Boston. I'm struck by its almost ethereal quality, despite being a rendering of a very solid, established institution. What stories does this drawing tell you about the city and the people within it? Curator: This seemingly simple architectural study is ripe with social context. Church steeples often dominated skylines, representing not just religious authority, but also power structures within the community. Consider who had access to these spaces, and whose stories were centered versus marginalized. Langmann’s choice to depict this church invites us to question its role in shaping Boston's social fabric. Editor: That makes me think about the figures at the base and who is included and excluded. Thanks for sharing that perspective! Curator: Of course. Thinking about art this way invites us to look critically at the world.