Untitled (man in plaid coat and hat looking in mirror) c. 1947

Editor: This intriguing, untitled gelatin silver print by Jack Gould features a man in a plaid coat gazing into a mirror. It feels rather enigmatic. What do you make of it? Curator: Enigmatic is the perfect word! The mirroring creates a doubling, an echo of self. It almost feels like a conversation the man is having with himself. And in that stark black and white, isn't there a hint of melancholy? Editor: I see it now! Like he's searching for something in his reflection. Curator: Perhaps he is, or perhaps he is just pondering the mysteries of existence, aren’t we all? Editor: True. I hadn’t considered how much a simple mirror could reveal. Curator: Absolutely. It’s more than just an image; it's a quiet meditation on identity.