Extreme Line of Confederate Works, Cold Harbor, Virginia 1865

Curator: This is John Reekie's photograph, "Extreme Line of Confederate Works, Cold Harbor, Virginia." The stark image shows the aftermath of battle. Editor: It has such a somber tone, doesn’t it? The barren landscape and skeletal trees evoke a sense of loss and desolation. Curator: Reekie’s process is key to understanding this. The albumen print, a popular method at the time, allowed for a high level of detail. Look at the way the light plays across the earthworks. It highlights the labor involved in creating those defenses. Editor: And whose labor was that? Enslaved people were often forced to build these fortifications. The photograph inadvertently documents their exploitation and coerced labor. Curator: Absolutely. And the very act of photographing the site so soon after the battle served a purpose. These images helped shape public memory and understanding of the conflict. Editor: It's a sobering reminder of the war's devastating impact, and the power of images to frame narratives. Curator: Indeed. Studying these images critically allows us to consider how they perpetuate certain historical interpretations.