Housing, Conditions: United States. New Jersey. Newark: Housing Conditions in Newark, New Jersey c. 1911

Editor: This photo collage by Jessie Tarbox Beals, titled "Housing Conditions in Newark, New Jersey," is a stark depiction of urban life. The images feel incredibly revealing, almost invasive. What can you tell me about the context surrounding these photographs? Curator: Beals' work functions as social commentary. She challenges us to confront the systemic inequalities of the time. Her photographs, such as this one, expose the dire living conditions of marginalized communities. Consider the arrangement: the collage juxtaposes domestic interiors with exterior shots to emphasize both the public and private faces of poverty. What narrative do you think she is trying to create? Editor: It feels like she wants us to see the whole picture, inside and out. Curator: Exactly. Beals' activism is powerful, reminding us of the camera's capacity to catalyze social change. Editor: I see the importance of bearing witness through art.