Untitled (one antelope at the zoo) c. 1950

Editor: This is Jack Gould’s "Untitled (one antelope at the zoo)," a gelatin silver print. The photo itself, especially being a negative, feels very raw. What stands out to you? Curator: The materiality of the gelatin silver print and its photographic process are key. The transformation of the antelope into a consumable image alters its very essence. Consider the labor involved in capturing, developing, and printing this. Editor: So it's less about the antelope itself, and more about the process? Curator: Precisely. The zoo becomes a factory, processing nature into spectacle. The photograph, then, is a commodity, mirroring the antelope's own commodification. What does that say about our consumption of the natural world? Editor: Wow, I hadn’t thought about it that way. It definitely gives me a lot to consider about how we view animals and art. Curator: Exactly, understanding the means of production allows us to reflect on these relationships.