Is It Okay to See This?

Abstract

My curatorial intervention for the Archives of American Art Journal presents a range of materials (photographs, letters, journal entries, clippings) I have encountered in my work that have made me stop and ask, “Should I be seeing this? – Is this okay?” These items have prompted me to consider the responsibilities a researcher has regarding discretion. Where does empathy lie in historical writing? How does a curator or art historian activate sensitive material in a way that is sympathetic to their subject? Are these legitimate concerns? Do they get in the way of telling the truth? When is it appropriate to reveal what could be difficult, compromising, expectation turning, or problematic? When is it off limits? Curators and art historians constantly navigate this space.