Untitled (poodle in clown outfit on hind legs) 1957

Curator: Oh, my. This untitled photograph by Jack Gould presents a poodle, upright in a clown costume. It strikes me as simultaneously whimsical and slightly unsettling. Editor: I see that too. It’s small, almost a vignette, yet the high contrast and stark composition magnify the strangeness of the subject matter. What do we know of Gould’s process here? Curator: The image itself is quite small, less than six by six centimeters, which might suggest an amateur format. The visible Kodak markings on the edge suggest the use of readily available materials and commercial processing. Editor: That makes sense. Given the theatrical nature of the dog, it also speaks to issues of labor and performance. Was the dog forced to stand like that, to be dressed this way? It's a melancholy note under the fluff. Curator: Interesting point. It makes me think about the commodification of pets in postwar America, and how the lines between affection and exploitation could blur. Editor: Exactly. It's a snapshot, but it's layered with all sorts of complicated anxieties about the everyday. Curator: A photograph that leaves us with more questions than answers, perhaps? Editor: Definitely. A small photograph with a rather large impact.