Untitled (people standing outside of car) 1947

Curator: Isn’t it funny how a simple snapshot can hold so much? This is an untitled piece by Jack Gould, a gelatin silver print of a family seemingly on a road trip. The dimensions are modest, only about 5.7 x 5.7 cm. Editor: It's dreamlike, almost ghostly. The reversed tones create such an eerie feeling, like a memory fading. What exactly is that in their hands? Curator: I believe they're consulting a road map. There’s something beautifully poignant about the everyday nature of the scene, juxtaposed with the photographic technique. It asks questions. Editor: Right, but let's think about what it is to reverse tones in a silver print. It’s a chemical process, time, labor... and silver! It’s all about the resources used to build this, not just the scene depicted. Curator: True, the materiality is crucial here. And the ghostly effect maybe isn't so bad--to me, it elevates the mundane and speaks volumes about the human condition and the journey. Editor: I guess it does show how something very basic can be elevated, depending on the method, or medium. Curator: Exactly. The small scale also makes it feel quite intimate. Editor: Fair enough. I suppose I can see the beauty in that, even within the means of production.