Untitled (little boy dressed up as king) c. 1950

Editor: This is Jack Gould's "Untitled (little boy dressed up as king)," a photograph from the Harvard Art Museums. It has a strange, dreamlike quality, almost unsettling. What do you see in it? Curator: The photograph, even in its inverted state, resonates with familiar symbols. The crown, the stars, the maternal figure—they echo archetypes of power, innocence, and care. What memories do these symbols evoke for you? Editor: I guess the stars and crown remind me of childhood dress-up, but the inverted image is a bit creepy. Curator: The inversion perhaps forces us to confront the shadows inherent in these symbols, the fragility of power, the fleeting nature of innocence. It highlights the cultural memory embedded within our visual language. Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't considered how the photographic inversion could alter the symbols' usual meaning. Curator: Exactly! It's a reminder that images carry complex histories, shaped by both conscious and unconscious associations. Editor: Thanks, that's a fresh perspective!