Untitled (chimp playing the piano) c. 1950

Curator: Here we see Jack Gould’s compact, 6 x 6 cm photograph, titled "Untitled (chimp playing the piano)," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What immediately strikes me is the artificiality—the unsettling juxtaposition of the chimp, costumed, against that staged backdrop. Curator: Indeed. Consider how the negative space around the chimp amplifies its presence, creating a focal point that both draws us in and keeps us at a distance. Editor: I find the chimp’s attire—the leopard print—so loaded. It evokes a colonial-era fascination with the "exotic," reducing the animal to a symbol of otherness for entertainment. Curator: Yet the composition also suggests a deeper narrative—a commentary on performance, expectation, and the human desire to control nature. Editor: Absolutely, the cultural baggage is immense. This image is far from innocent. Curator: Through compositional tension and contrasting textures, it creates a space for reflection and the re-evaluation of history. Editor: Yes, a powerful critique hidden within a seemingly simple image.