Untitled (construction of buildings, two men with crane) c. 1950

Editor: This small, untitled photograph by Jack Gould depicts the construction of a building, focusing on two men and a crane. The sharp contrasts and the focus on the raw materials give it a very industrial feel. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the process, the labor involved. Look at how Gould frames the steel beams, the crane, the workers. It's about the making of something, the sheer physical effort, and the consumption of resources inherent in such a project. The photograph documents the labor as material. Editor: So, the photograph itself becomes a record of that material process? Curator: Exactly. And it invites us to consider the social context – who are these workers? What are their lives like? The photograph is not just an image; it's evidence of a specific kind of work and its place in the urban landscape. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. I was so focused on the aesthetic qualities. Curator: It’s about recognizing the value in the often-overlooked aspects of art and labor.