Untitled (people in costume at Beaux Arts Ball, large constructed costumes) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing people in costume at a Beaux Arts Ball. The large costumes are striking, and a bit unsettling. What kind of commentary do you think Gould was making here? Curator: Given the context of Beaux Arts Balls, these constructed costumes could be seen as a satirical critique of elitist social structures. They mimic and mock the grandiosity and excess often associated with such events, pointing to questions of identity, performance, and the social roles people play. The figures are dehumanized, almost. Editor: Dehumanized? Curator: Yes, they blend into the background and become part of the architecture. The photograph situates the viewer as complicit in this cultural theater. I think it is important to consider the role of the artist in perpetuating such imagery, and what responsibility, if any, they shoulder. What do you think? Editor: I never considered it from that perspective. I am going to have to think about that some more. Curator: Me too.