Untitled (people filling van with gas) 1947

Editor: This Untitled photograph by Jack Gould shows people at a gas station. It makes me think about American car culture. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Note the "Mobil oil" sign and the figures' clothing. Consider the labor involved in producing and distributing that oil, the social context of car ownership, and how it changed consumption patterns. What do you think Gould was capturing about this moment? Editor: I see how everyday activities are connected to larger systems of production. Thanks for the insight! Curator: Precisely! Examining the mundane reveals the complex interplay of materials, labor, and social structures.