Untitled (man sitting in crowd being kissed on head by a standing woman) c. 1950

Curator: This untitled photograph by Jack Gould captures a man seated amongst a crowd receiving a kiss on the head. The image, about 2.25 inches square, shows an intimate moment in a public setting. Editor: There's a tenderness here, a casual yet striking display of affection in what seems like a segregated social gathering. The woman's hat and dress also speaks to a specific time. Curator: The negative’s tonal inversions emphasize the textures of clothing and skin, almost like a study in light itself. It makes me think about the labor required to develop such an image. Editor: And I see layers of identity being performed here: gender roles, social class, racial dynamics. What are we to make of this unusual power dynamic in a segregated time? Curator: It's the kind of image that makes you think about the relationships in your own life. Editor: Definitely, a small photograph that speaks volumes about love and social complexity.