Untitled (small dog wearing fireman's mascot hat) c. 1950

Curator: Here we have an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, depicting a small dog in a fireman's hat; it's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Oh, it’s so strange. Almost ghostly. Is it a negative? The poor thing looks a bit distressed under that heavy helmet. Curator: The inversion of tones certainly creates an unsettling effect. Note how the composition centers the dog, with the hat acting as a focal point, drawing the eye. Editor: I wonder what the story is behind this image. Was it a beloved family pet or some kind of studio prop? The negative makes it feel like a memory fading away. Curator: Perhaps. It's the tonal arrangement that lends itself to that interpretation, inviting us to contemplate impermanence and loss. Editor: It’s funny how a simple image can be so evocative. A tiny monument to a good dog.