Untitled (poodle wearing grass skirt and lei) 1957

Curator: This photograph, by Jack Gould, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, features an “Untitled (poodle wearing grass skirt and lei).” Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the absurdity and the melancholic stillness of the image; the dog seems so serious amidst the humor. Curator: The inverted tonality creates a ghostly, dreamlike atmosphere. The poodle’s pose, perched on a simple cube, almost transforms it into a surreal sculpture. Editor: It’s hard not to consider the loaded history of poodles as symbols of wealth and privilege, and how the grass skirt and lei could be read within the context of cultural appropriation. Curator: Perhaps it’s a commentary on constructed identities? Or simply a playful moment captured in time, a little vignette of the artist’s imagination? Editor: Right. It invites a conversation about how we project narratives onto images. This poodle becomes a stand-in, a focal point for broader cultural dialogues. Curator: Ultimately, it's a thought-provoking image. Editor: A weird, compelling blend of dark humor and serious questions.