Untitled (VE Day: two women blowing party horns) 1945

Editor: Here we have Jack Gould’s "Untitled (VE Day: two women blowing party horns)." The date is unknown and it’s a small, black and white photograph. The negative image gives it an eerie feel, but the subject seems joyous. What do you see here? Curator: The photograph's power lies in its capture of spontaneous public emotion. The VE Day celebration, a moment of collective catharsis, is expressed through these women. How does Gould's choice of the negative, an unusual choice, affect your reading of the work? Editor: It's like the inverse of happiness, a ghost of a celebration. Curator: Precisely. The inverted tones highlight the fragile nature of peace, a poignant commentary on the socio-political climate following the war, don't you think? Editor: I do. I hadn't considered how the technique reflects the uncertain future, even amidst celebration. Curator: The piece makes me think about the ever-present dialogue between joy and historical context.