Untitled (man and chimp on bleachers) c. 1950

Curator: This is an "Untitled" photograph by Jack Gould, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts a man and a chimpanzee on bleachers, oddly captivating and unsettling all at once. Editor: It’s certainly an interesting image; the textures seem so tactile, almost like I could reach out and touch the weathered wood of the bleachers. The negative print gives it a ghostly quality. Curator: Given the figures' attire, this image likely plays with gender roles and stereotypes of masculinity in the mid-20th century. The sailor, the chimpanzee—both are loaded with cultural baggage. It makes you wonder about representation. Editor: Absolutely, and the labor behind capturing this image is worth exploring. It's not just about pointing and shooting; it's about the film, the developing process, and the choices made in printing. Curator: I agree completely. Considering the power dynamics inherent in staging such a scene—the human’s dominance, the animal’s potential exploitation—is crucial for a modern understanding. Editor: Right. And that bottle near the man's feet! Washed up there or put there? Anyway, this makes you think about the photographer’s intention. Curator: Exactly. Both the sailor and the chimp are reduced to objects, really. This image brings up complex questions about the gaze and our own complicity. Editor: Seeing it this way changes the piece.