Untitled (elderly man in chair with pipe and bookcase behind) c. 1948

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (elderly man in chair with pipe and bookcase behind)," by Jack Gould, presents an interesting inversion. It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. What can we unpack from this domestic scene? Curator: Given its high contrast and the sitter's attire, I read this through the lens of class and leisure. Who has the privilege to be photographed in repose, surrounded by books – a symbol of knowledge and power? Editor: That's a great point. The bookcase really does dominate the background. Does the negative image affect your interpretation? Curator: Absolutely. The inversion disrupts our expectations and forces us to question the assumed neutrality of photographic representation, highlighting the constructed nature of images and their potential for revealing hidden power dynamics. It asks us to consider who is seen, and how they are seen. Editor: I never would have considered that. I'll definitely think about representation differently now.