Untitled (two sandwich men wearing signs) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, of modest dimensions, presents a scene of two sandwich-board men, promoting sales, captured by Jack Gould. Editor: It's a striking image, almost ghostly. The men seem almost transparent against the backdrop of the bustling city. Curator: Indeed. Notice the signs. One advertises "Barney's Surplus Sale," while the other promotes "Togs, Army Store." The layering of signs here creates a sort of maze of commerce. Editor: And I'm struck by how these men, burdened by their signs, become symbols themselves—of consumerism, of labor, perhaps even of the invisible figures propping up our economy. Curator: Perhaps. It speaks to the human condition, doesn't it? The things we carry, both literally and figuratively. Editor: Absolutely, and I think that's where the power of this image truly lies. It's deceptively simple but remarkably resonant.