Untitled (gorilla in zoo) c. 1951

Editor: Here we have Jack Gould's "Untitled (gorilla in zoo)," a small gelatin silver print at the Harvard Art Museums. The orangey monochrome gives it a dreamlike quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the conditions of its making. This image, captured with likely limited resources and technology, brings the gorilla’s captivity into sharp focus. Consider the labor involved in maintaining the zoo, the cost of the animal's keep, and the public's consumption of this spectacle. Editor: It makes you think about the industry behind it all. Curator: Exactly! It reveals a complex system of social and economic power through the simple act of photographing this gorilla. Editor: I see the image in a new light now. Curator: Me too; thinking about production always adds complexity.