Gropius Residence, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1938: View from south c. 1938

Editor: This is Paul Davis's photograph of the Gropius Residence in Lincoln, Massachusetts, taken in 1938. It’s a striking image, so clean and modern, almost like a utopian dream. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Ah, yes, a dream rendered in sharp lines and cool tones. I see the Bauhaus ethos transplanted to New England soil. It's not just a house, is it? It's a statement, a manifesto etched in glass and concrete. Does the starkness feel alienating or inviting to you? Editor: I can see both. It's beautiful, but…sterile? I guess that's the point. Curator: Precisely. It’s about redefining how we live, stripping away ornamentation, embracing functionality. A machine for living, as Le Corbusier put it. This image makes me ponder, is the essence of home in its simplicity, or in its stories? Editor: That’s a good question. I think I’m still figuring that out!