Untitled (man in control room of Department of Transportation building) c. 1950

Editor: This intriguing gelatin silver print, Untitled, by Jack Gould, pictures a man at work amidst complex machinery. The sheer density of the equipment really strikes me. What can you tell me about this image? Curator: I'm drawn to the photograph's depiction of labor. Consider the vast infrastructure required for even mundane tasks. The materiality of this equipment—metal, wires, gauges—emphasizes the physical nature of work, a stark contrast to the desk job suggested by the man at the center. What does it say about consumption? Editor: So, it's not just about the man but the entire system of production and maintenance surrounding him? Thanks, I’ll definitely look at the image differently now. Curator: Precisely. The photograph challenges our understanding of value.