Untitled (train wreck) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph by Jack Gould, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Untitled (train wreck)." It measures about 6 by 25 centimeters. The negative is striking. Editor: It’s undeniably unsettling, possessing a stark, almost ghostly quality. The distorted perspective makes the train car looming and precarious. Curator: Indeed, the choice to invert the tones emphasizes the materiality of the photographic process itself. We see the labor involved in creating this image. Editor: The photograph might reference anxieties surrounding industrialization and progress. Train wrecks were tragically common, becoming potent symbols of societal disruption. Curator: I agree. Considering its historic context, the image suggests the precarious nature of industrial progress and its impact on communities. Editor: It gives one pause, to see such a moment captured with such visual intensity. Curator: Yes, the image allows us to reflect on the role of transportation in shaping society.