Untitled (woman smoling a pipe, face encircled by smoke) 1946

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Jack Gould of a woman smoking a pipe. It's intriguing because of the smoke's presence around her face. What do you make of it? Curator: I'm drawn to the materiality of the image itself. As a photographic negative, it reveals the chemical processes involved in its creation. Consider the labor behind its production, from the photographer to the darkroom technicians. What social narratives are embedded in this image of leisure and consumption? Editor: That's a different way to look at it! I was focused on the subject. Curator: The subject is important, but also think about what is not shown. What are the means of procuring tobacco and photographic materials? What does the image reveal about class and gender roles of the era? Editor: I see. It’s more than just a portrait; it’s a record of a specific moment with a whole system of production behind it. Thanks!