Untitled (people walking by fake fairy-tale castle) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing a small castle with people walking by. It's quite dark, almost dreamlike. What social commentary do you think Gould might be making here? Curator: This image invites us to consider the manufactured nature of aspiration. The castle, a symbol of power and fairytale promises, is revealed as a facade against the backdrop of everyday life. Who gets access to the "fairy tale" and at what cost? Editor: So, it's about the illusion of upward mobility? Curator: Precisely. The figures walking past become complicit in the perpetuation of this illusion. Do they aspire to the castle, or are they merely extras in its performance? It makes you wonder about the artist's intended message. Editor: I see. It makes me think about how we stage our lives. Thank you.