Untitled (exterior of Antione's Restaurant) c. 1935

Editor: Here we have C. Bennette Moore’s "Untitled (exterior of Antione's Restaurant)," a gelatin silver print. It has a ghostly quality, almost dreamlike. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm drawn to the process itself. The gelatin silver print, a product of industrial chemistry, captures a specific moment. Consider the labor involved in its production. How does the mechanical reproduction of the image affect our understanding of Antoine's as a social and economic institution? Editor: That's interesting. I was focused on the composition, but you're thinking about the means of production? Curator: Precisely. The photograph is not just a window onto a restaurant; it's a commodity, created through a network of materials, labor, and technologies. It prompts us to question the relationship between art, industry, and everyday life. What do you think? Editor: That makes me rethink my initial impression. Thanks!