Untitled (judge at his desk talking with other men) c. 1948

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, depicting a judge at his desk in discussion with other men. Editor: It strikes me as strangely ethereal, almost spectral. The high contrast and inversion of light create an otherworldly atmosphere. Curator: The light definitely accentuates the symbolic weight of the figures. Notice the judge, enthroned in his rocking chair, his pose reminiscent of traditional depictions of authority and wisdom. Editor: And the setting itself—the formality of the desk, the wood panelling—speaks to power structures, the very materiality of the space reinforcing social hierarchies. Curator: Precisely. Consider how the basket and bowls at the judge's feet may symbolize offerings or tributes, common visual elements of power across cultures. Editor: I'm curious about the photographic process, the labor involved in creating such a stark image. It feels removed from immediacy, mediated by technique. Curator: Indeed. It invites us to contemplate not only the scene itself but also the act of representation, how images shape our understanding of authority and justice. Editor: It’s a reminder that images, like the systems they depict, are constructed, negotiated, and open to interpretation. Curator: A powerful testament to the enduring nature of symbols and their manipulation.