Untitled (two chimps hugging) c. 1950

Curator: Here we have an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, depicting two chimpanzees embracing. Editor: The immediate impression is striking – the tenderness between these animals is palpable, despite the grainy texture of the monochrome print. Curator: Indeed, and it's crucial to consider the setting. The chimps are in what appears to be a staged environment, which prompts us to think about animal agency and the ethics of display. The clothing they are wearing further emphasizes this. Editor: Absolutely. The garments, combined with the hug, force us to contemplate labor, exploitation, and the consumption of the animals as spectacle. The making of the photograph itself, with its focus and composition, needs unpacking. Curator: The intimacy captured invites a discourse around kinship and empathy that crosses species lines. It disrupts anthropocentric perspectives, prompting a reassessment of the boundaries we impose. Editor: Thinking about it now, I will never look at a zoo in the same way again. Curator: Nor will I.