Untitled (man with elephant on tricycle) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have a photograph by Jack Gould, charmingly titled "Untitled (man with elephant on tricycle)." It's quite small, only about 6 by 19 centimeters. The elephant seems... dignified, despite the tricycle. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's fascinating how this image uses humor to subtly critique power dynamics. The elephant, a symbol of strength, is reduced to a spectacle, its agency seemingly controlled by the man. Editor: Reduced? Curator: Yes, think about the historical context: the exploitation of animals in circuses, the colonial gaze that exoticizes and commodifies. The apparent innocence veils a darker history of domination. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It's unsettling now. Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to question what we find amusing and the narratives we perpetuate. Art can be an activist tool, prompting these crucial questions. Editor: I’ll definitely look at things differently now.