Most doorbells that haven’t been replaced or repainted in years speak volumes about disregard. Despite their explicit invitation to say hello, to push that button, to connect face to face with another human being, they seem more like symbols of seclusion. With most well-worn doorbells, it’s as if the elements, not the touch of countless fingers, had diminished their luster. But some, like this one, do seem to capture the occasions of many visits, welcome ones by friends and family. There’s a uniformity to the scratches, and a resilient solidity to the device itself, that suggest a doorway that continues to see frequent activity, rather than one that serves a shut in as a blockade from the outside world.
An ongoing series cross-posted from instagram.com/dsqt.