Untitled (aerial view of cars driving on main city street) c. 1950

Curator: This gelatin silver print, an untitled work by Jack Gould, presents an aerial view of cars driving on a city street. It's a striking, almost ghostly image. Editor: Ghostly is right! It feels like a memory, or maybe a dream sequence from a classic film noir, all sleek lines and subdued energy. Curator: Consider how the elevated perspective transforms the familiar cityscape into a network of pathways. Cars become symbols of movement, each following a prescribed route. Editor: They are like little shimmering beetles, intent on their destinations, unaware of being part of this grand, almost overwhelming urban dance. There is something serene about that. Curator: Perhaps that's because the anonymity of the cars mirrors our own existence within the larger societal framework – each vehicle, each life, following pre-set paths. Editor: Hmmm. I was enjoying the noir feeling, the simplicity of it! But I see what you mean...It is a bit eerie when you consider the lack of control there. Curator: These images invite interpretations, capturing the human condition in a deceptively simple form. Editor: Well, that's given me something new to consider, thanks for helping me see that.