Untitled (man with trophy standing next to old car) c. 1950

Curator: This gelatin silver print, only 6x6 cm, comes to us courtesy of Jack Gould at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s titled, simply, “Untitled (man with trophy standing next to old car)." Editor: It's a world of reversed tones, giving the whole thing a strange, dreamlike feeling. Look at that ghostly glint off the car’s polished metal! Curator: Yes, and the man is presented with a certain... nobility. Trophies like these were often symbols of social standing, the gentleman driver and his powerful machine. Editor: He looks proud. The trophy adds a touch of ironic humor, like he's won at something charmingly anachronistic. Curator: Perhaps, but consider the societal context. These trophies bolstered a narrative around wealth and leisure. Editor: I still like the ghostly version of this little world of vintage cars and proud smiles. Curator: An interesting reflection of a moment, made especially potent by Gould's approach. Editor: Indeed. It makes you ponder about what the real prize really is.