Untitled (chimp and monkey performing tricks on cart) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould of a chimp and monkey on a cart. It feels so staged and artificial. What story do you think the artist is trying to tell? Curator: I see a focus on the means of production. Gould seems less interested in individual artistry and more in the social context of animal performance. Consider the labor involved in training these animals, the materiality of the props, and the consumption of this spectacle. Editor: So, you're saying it is less about the animals themselves and more about the system behind the performance? Curator: Precisely. It challenges our assumptions about the separation of high art and entertainment by showcasing the artifice behind the illusion. Editor: I see. It makes you think about the exploitation involved in creating this kind of "fun." Thanks for the insight.