Untitled (head of mule seen from the front) c. 1950

Curator: What a striking image! This is Jack Gould's "Untitled (head of mule seen from the front)," a small but impactful photograph in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: My first thought is, that mule looks like it's seen some things! Those ears perked up, the intense gaze... it's like a stoic guardian staring right through you. Curator: Exactly! The mule, throughout history, has often symbolized burden and resilience. This image plays with that, presenting the animal in a way that feels both familiar and monumental. Editor: And the monochrome intensifies that feeling. It strips away the color, leaving us with the raw emotion, the starkness of the animal's presence. It is about endurance and the quiet dignity of labor. Curator: It makes you wonder about the unseen stories carried in its gaze, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. It's a potent reminder that even the most humble creatures can hold profound depths.