Untitled (tchildren in swim suits sitting on ground near chain-link fence) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing children in swimsuits near a chain-link fence. It has this surreal, ghostly feel. What do you make of it? Curator: The photograph's material presence—the Kodak safety film itself—speaks to mass production and accessibility. Its snapshot aesthetic clashes with its institutional setting here at Harvard. Editor: That's interesting. So, it's about the means of production rather than just the image? Curator: Precisely. Consider the labor implied in both the taking and developing of the image, and how that contrasts with the seemingly carefree scene. What do you think that tension reflects? Editor: I see your point. It definitely adds another layer to consider.