Health, General: Germany. Berlin. Municipal Slaughter House: Municipal Slaughter House: Berlin. 1897

Curator: Oh, this photograph by Waldemar Titzenthaler, titled "Health, General: Germany. Berlin. Municipal Slaughter House: Municipal Slaughter House: Berlin," is… intense, to say the least. Editor: Yes, "intense" is one word for it. My first impression is a kind of grim intimacy. The monochromatic tones almost romanticize what is a very brutal scene. It’s quite unsettling. Curator: Unsettling, yes, but also so matter-of-fact. The men are working, there’s an inspection happening, a strangely bureaucratic feel to it all. It’s an early glimpse into industrial slaughter. Editor: I see this as a stark commentary on labor, class, and our often-hidden relationship with meat production. Who is profiting, and at what cost? It's a visual manifesto of power dynamics. Curator: It makes me think about how far removed we are now. Perhaps this was more transparent then? Still, it is an arresting photograph, demanding we look at the source of our sustenance. Editor: Absolutely. A visceral reminder that challenges us to engage with the ethics of consumption.