Untitled (young girls playing dress-up and putting on make-up) c. 1950

Curator: This silver gelatin print by Jack Gould captures two young girls playing dress-up. It’s simply titled, "Untitled (young girls playing dress-up and putting on make-up)." Editor: It feels intensely intimate, despite the rather formal composition. There’s an air of shared secrets. Curator: Absolutely. The image speaks to the complex performance of femininity, even at a young age. It prompts questions about societal expectations and the construction of identity. Editor: I'm struck by the mirror behind them. It’s a powerful symbol of self-reflection, literally, but also the girls' emerging awareness of how they appear to others. Curator: Right. The image captures a specific cultural moment, but also resonates with timeless themes of growing up and navigating gender roles. Editor: Ultimately, it's a bittersweet portrait—a glimpse into the delicate balance between innocence and the encroaching world of adulthood.