Untitled (man and chimp on fake tug boat) c. 1950

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, held at the Harvard Art Museums. We see a man and a chimpanzee posed on a faux tugboat, against a backdrop advertising a “Show Boat.” Editor: It has a strange, dreamlike quality, doesn’t it? The inverted tones give it this eerie, otherworldly feel. Curator: The image evokes a sense of theatricality, perhaps reflecting the staged nature of public entertainment and the roles we play. Editor: Chimpanzees often symbolize mimicry or a distorted reflection of ourselves, heightening the photograph's unsettling tone. Perhaps it is challenging our perception. Curator: Indeed, this photograph allows us to ponder the intersection of performance, identity, and the blurred lines between humanity and animal representation. Editor: It is haunting, isn't it? A tiny, but resonant piece, capturing something unsettling about display and identity.