Untitled (two businessmen in office) c. 1950

Editor: This is Jack Gould’s “Untitled (two businessmen in office),” a small black and white photograph in the Harvard Art Museums collection. It's quite stark, almost ghostly. What strikes you about this image? Curator: The image speaks to the mid-century corporate culture, doesn't it? Consider the power dynamics embedded in the photographic gaze. One man stands, almost presenting himself, while the other is seated, immersed in paperwork. Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. It's like a performance of corporate identity. Curator: Precisely. And notice the institutional setting—the blinds, the desk. How does the architecture contribute to the narrative of control and authority? Editor: I never considered that before, it adds a new layer of meaning. Curator: Indeed. The image reflects how social structures are manifested in seemingly mundane settings.