Untitled (women making crafts, wreathes) c. 1950

Curator: This untitled photograph by Jack Gould, held at the Harvard Art Museums, depicts women crafting, seemingly making wreaths, captured in a 6 x 6 cm frame. Editor: Instantly, I'm hit by this incredible sense of cozy domesticity, like a memory half-recalled; it feels so intimate, like a glimpse into someone's personal history. Curator: The photo-negative process itself becomes a key part of the artwork; the stark contrast and reversed tones force us to consider the materiality of image-making. Editor: It’s funny how the reversed tones actually amplify the feeling of a half-remembered dream. What ordinary, yet somehow significant activity are they engaged in? There is a strange beauty and intimacy, you know. Curator: Absolutely! The very act of making, especially crafts associated with domestic labor, has historically been devalued. Gould's photograph elevates this process. Editor: Yes. It reminds me of my grandmother's hands, always busy, always creating something beautiful from next to nothing. And it makes you appreciate the skill and love poured into everyday items, doesn't it? Curator: It does! The photograph is a testament to the value of everyday creativity and the often-unseen labor of women, in my view. Editor: And in mine, it’s just a very moving moment. Thank you for sharing it.