Untitled (man with elephant on tricycle) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould of a man with an elephant on a tricycle. It's small, and the grayscale creates a surreal mood. What strikes you about its composition? Curator: Consider the tonality first. The inverted contrast presents a study in light and shadow, disrupting expected visual cues. Observe how the Kodak safety film border creates a frame within a frame. Editor: So, it's about the visual relationships, not necessarily the subject matter? Curator: Precisely. The symbolic weight of the elephant is subverted by its placement on the tricycle. The entire scene exists as a formal exercise in balance and disjunction. Editor: I never would have considered the tonal inversions on their own, so thank you for elucidating that. Curator: My pleasure. There are many levels to explore within this photographic negative.