Untitled (man and woman sitting on opposite sides of desk) 1954

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It shows a man and a woman seated at a desk. Editor: It has a rather stark, clinical feel, doesn’t it? The inversion gives it an otherworldly mood. Curator: Absolutely. Considering the context of Gould’s work, often focused on labor conditions, I wonder about the power dynamics implied here. The desk becomes a site where hierarchies are reinforced. Editor: And the materials, the papers and objects strewn across the desk— they represent the daily grind, the physical manifestation of their work. The woman’s presence, possibly subordinate, needs exploring through a lens of gendered labor. Curator: Indeed, we must delve into the narratives woven into the fabric of this seemingly simple scene. Editor: It's a fascinating starting point for a deeper conversation about work, gender and societal structures.