Untitled (chimp combing hair and looking into mirror) c. 1951

Curator: This small, intriguing photograph, housed at the Harvard Art Museums, is simply titled “Untitled (chimp combing hair and looking into mirror)” by Jack Gould. Editor: I find it immediately unsettling. The forced anthropomorphism is palpable; the chimp’s reflection almost seems to mock our own rituals of vanity. Curator: Chimpanzees and mirrors often signify self-awareness, but the clothing certainly skews the message into human likeness. I see here a profound ambiguity; is this about control, reflection, or perhaps even mimicry? Editor: The costume is definitely the core here, it's forcing the animal into a human caricature, reflecting historical narratives of exploitation and dehumanization. It's a loaded image when you consider its social context. Curator: Indeed. And yet, I can't help but see the humor intertwined with that darker reading. It’s the duality of the human-animal relationship laid bare. Editor: I agree, it's an uncomfortable reminder of how we project our own values onto other beings, and of the power dynamics implicit in representation. Curator: Thank you, this piece certainly gives us much to ponder about our place in nature and our reflection in art. Editor: Absolutely, it leaves me reflecting on the layers of meaning behind what initially appears as a simple image.