Defectives, Epileptics: United States. Massachusetts. Palmer. State Hospital for Epileptics: Kitchen bldg. and Assembly Hall. 1906. 1906

Curator: This photograph, taken in 1906 by Woodhead Studio, documents the Palmer State Hospital for Epileptics in Massachusetts. Note the sharp angles and the building's symmetrical form. What strikes you first? Editor: It’s unsettling; the symmetry feels cold, almost clinical. The unwavering focus on the facade lends a sense of the building observing us. It is very bleak. Curator: Indeed. The formal composition is rigid. The brickwork, the placement of windows—all contribute to a sense of order and control. One could interpret this as the photographer’s attempt to create a sense of dignity. Editor: Or, conversely, a visual manifestation of institutional power. The chimneys rising like sentinels, the evenly spaced windows like eyes—they speak of surveillance. I see societal anxieties about illness and control rendered in brick and mortar. Curator: A plausible reading. Yet, consider how the light plays across the brick; a soft, diffused light that softens the rigidity slightly. The texture, the subtle gradations of tone. Editor: Perhaps, but I can't shake the feeling that the building itself becomes a symbol of confinement. Its very structure communicates a narrative of isolation. Curator: A chilling thought, but a valuable addition to our understanding. Thank you for bringing new insight to the photo. Editor: Thank you. It makes me think about those who were inside.