Untitled (elderly women at DAR meeting) 1948

Editor: Here we have Jack Gould's small, undated photograph, *Untitled (elderly women at DAR meeting)*. The stark contrast really brings out the textures of their clothing. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: I see a commentary on the social role of women, specifically within organizations like the DAR. Consider the labor involved in their clothing – the fabrics, the tailoring. How does this visual record participate in constructing notions of class and belonging? Editor: So, the material signifies social standing and the labor associated with maintaining that image? Curator: Precisely! And think about the photographic process itself, the darkroom labor, the consumption of photographic materials. These all contribute to the meaning of the work. Editor: That’s a really interesting way to think about it. I’ll never look at a photograph the same way again!