Untitled (man looking at pile of junk with tires in front) c. 1950

Editor: So, this is an intriguing photograph, "Untitled (man looking at pile of junk with tires in front)" by Jack Gould. It's small, only about 4x5 inches. I'm struck by the contrast – a man in a suit amidst what looks like discarded items. What do you make of this scene? Curator: Ah, the theatre of the everyday! It whispers stories of consumption, doesn't it? Is he a king surveying his kingdom of forgotten things, or perhaps a character lost in a play about modern waste? I love how the textures clash: smooth suit against rough tires. Editor: That's a lovely way to put it. Curator: I wonder, does this image make you think about our own relationship with "stuff"? Editor: It certainly does. I might look at discarded objects differently from now on. Curator: Me too! This image is a poem made out of cast offs.