Untitled (two chimps hugging) c. 1950

Curator: Jack Gould's small, untitled photograph presents two chimpanzees in a close embrace. The negative space makes it feel ghostly. Editor: The stark monochromatic palette and high contrast undeniably emphasize the texture of the animals' fur and the geometric backdrop. Curator: Indeed, this work, held at the Harvard Art Museums, prompts questions about humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom, particularly in the context of performance. Editor: I find that the composition reinforces the doubling effect. Are the chimps reflections or distinct entities? It feels like a meditation on symmetry and identity. Curator: Perhaps Gould intended to highlight our societal structures reflected in such an intimate moment between these creatures. Editor: Regardless, the photograph's formal austerity lends it a timeless quality, prompting ongoing visual analysis.