Untitled (view of mission courtyard) c. 1925

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by William Edward Dassonville, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It captures a view of a mission courtyard, showcasing the artist’s technical skill. Editor: It strikes me as melancholic, almost haunting. The high contrast and unkempt foliage evoke a sense of abandonment, wouldn't you agree? Curator: The composition is quite striking. Note how the strong horizontal lines of the architecture contrast with the organic, almost chaotic form of the vegetation on the left. It’s a study in opposing forces. Editor: Indeed. And perhaps those forces mirror the complex history of the mission itself—a site of both spiritual solace and colonial imposition. Whose narratives are silenced in this seemingly serene image? Curator: That’s an interesting reading. I appreciate how you draw attention to the broader historical context. Editor: Well, it is a reminder that art doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is a reflection of the societies that produce it, even in its aesthetics. Curator: A powerful point. Viewing it this way adds more layers to the appreciation of form and content. Editor: Precisely. It is about peeling back the layers to reveal deeper insights.