Untitled (mini train on tracks, trees above) c. 1948

Editor: This is an untitled gelatin silver print by Jack Gould, showing a miniature train. It’s quite small, just a couple of inches square. What strikes me is the contrast and how the negative space becomes so prominent. What do you make of its materiality? Curator: Well, the choice of gelatin silver speaks volumes. It was a widely accessible and reproducible process. Consider the social context – who was Gould? Was this an amateur snapshot, a professional product? The mass production possibilities inherent in photography challenge traditional notions of artistic labor. Editor: That's a great point. It makes you think about the intention behind capturing this specific scene. Curator: Exactly! And how the photograph itself, as a manufactured object, enters into a system of exchange and consumption. The image becomes a commodity. Editor: I never thought of it that way. It's fascinating how much the materials can tell you. Curator: It is indeed. By looking closely at the materials and processes, we can unlock so much about the art and its place in the world.