Untitled (large group of men sitting at banquet tables) 1957

Curator: This photograph, currently entitled "Untitled (large group of men sitting at banquet tables)," is by Jack Gould. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought: a formal, almost ritualistic gathering. So many white suits... it's almost blinding. Curator: The repetition of figures creates a sense of uniformity. Symbolically, banquets often represent abundance and community. What do you make of that, set against what seems like a restricted group? Editor: It's difficult to interpret without more context. Who are these men? What's the occasion? It seems like this image captures a very specific social dynamic, perhaps one of power or exclusivity. Curator: The stark contrast emphasizes a certain severity. Visually, it evokes ideas of conformity and perhaps even institutional power. Editor: I'm left with a feeling of unease. The lack of individual expression is almost unsettling. Curator: The image certainly holds a mirror to societal structures and warrants further contemplation. Editor: Indeed, its silence speaks volumes about what's visible and what is deliberately concealed.