Untitled (boy riding on large tortoise) c. 1950

Editor: This intriguing black and white photograph, simply titled "Untitled (boy riding on large tortoise)" by Jack Gould, shows exactly that – a boy atop a giant tortoise. What strikes me is the texture of the negative itself, and the almost ghostly quality of the figures. What do you make of it? Curator: The photograph’s materiality is key. Consider the labor involved, from the chemical processes of developing the negative to the physical act of printing. The "Kodak Safety Film" border becomes part of the narrative. It prompts questions about the means of production and the consumer culture that supports it. Editor: So it's not just about the image, but about the film itself as a material object? Curator: Precisely. It asks us to consider the social and economic context in which this image was created and consumed. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks for the insight!