Untitled (chef slicing avocados) c. 1960

Curator: This photograph, attributed to Jack Gould and residing here at the Harvard Art Museums, is simply called Untitled (chef slicing avocados). Editor: My first thought is, what a curious and composed still life! It’s domestic, yet staged, almost like a painting. There is this fascinating tension between mundanity and meticulous arrangement. Curator: The avocados are an interesting choice of subject—they are placed to suggest abundance, and also allude to the changing trends of American eating habits. And the ring on the chef’s hand may indicate domestic stability. Editor: Exactly, it feels so… mid-century modern! A little sterile, yet hinting at a lifestyle just beyond the frame. And that red tablecloth—it's almost aggressive in its cheeriness. Curator: It's also interesting to think about the role of women during that era. This image seems to suggest women in the kitchen in a happy way. Editor: Yes, there’s a layer of cultural expectation, isn’t there? Food preparation, avocados, the ring—it all suggests a narrative carefully curated for the viewer. Curator: It leaves me thinking about the changing roles of domestic spaces. Editor: For me, it is about how a seemingly simple scene becomes a loaded tableau of cultural symbols and unspoken stories.