Untitled (portrait of Lena Horne singing) c. 1945

Curator: This is Jack Gould's "Untitled (portrait of Lena Horne singing)" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a gelatin silver print, measuring about 5.7 by 5.7 centimeters. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the drama of it, the stark contrast gives it such power, like a spotlight capturing a singular moment. Curator: The choice of gelatin silver points to its accessibility as a medium. It was widely used, facilitating dissemination of images and celebrity culture. Horne herself, a symbol of both glamour and civil rights activism. Editor: Exactly, the photograph's circulation speaks volumes. It was a means for Horne to control her own image in a time of limited representation, shaping narratives. Curator: The material also carries a certain weight, literally and figuratively. Silver's connection to wealth and status is juxtaposed with the often-exploitative labor involved in its extraction and processing. Editor: The image’s circulation created an important counternarrative. It's interesting to think about how this image functions within the larger scope of her career and impact on representation. Curator: Right, seeing it through this lens enriches our understanding. Editor: It certainly does, I appreciate that new perspective.