Untitled (Caldwell County Centennial, men on horses in parade) 1948

Curator: This arresting image by Harry Annas, simply titled "Untitled," captures a Caldwell County Centennial parade, showcasing men on horseback. Editor: It's stark, almost ghostly. The high contrast gives it a dreamlike, unsettling quality, like a memory fading at the edges. Curator: The photograph likely documents a significant local event. Parades, particularly centennial celebrations, often become carefully staged performances of community identity, visually solidifying shared histories and values. Editor: The horses become powerful symbols here. Throughout history, horses have represented status, freedom, and even domination. Here, they are literally paraded as the vehicles of progress. Curator: Exactly. Consider the flags and banners lining the street. They create a visual framework for understanding how the county wished to be perceived, and to promote a sense of belonging and pride. Editor: It's a reminder that even celebrations are carefully constructed narratives. This image makes you consider the stories being told—and whose voices are being amplified or silenced in the process. Curator: It definitely highlights how communal celebrations become powerful platforms for reinforcing, or sometimes challenging, the status quo. Editor: Absolutely. This photograph’s striking otherworldliness helps us see the familiar with fresh, critical eyes.