Untitled (workers marching in strike on city street) c. 1950

Editor: This black and white photograph by Jack Gould captures a workers' strike. The marchers and their signs create strong diagonal lines that draw my eye. What do you see in this image? Curator: Indeed. The photographic plane is activated by the interplay of light and shadow, particularly how the light reflects off the signs, drawing the viewer’s eye. What structural relationships do you observe between the figures and the architecture? Editor: Well, the buildings seem to loom over the march, giving a sense of the power dynamics at play. It's interesting how the architecture frames the human activity. Curator: Precisely. The buildings, particularly the stark grid of windows, echo and amplify the organized structure of the marching crowd. The formal elements reinforce the theme of collective action. Editor: I never thought about it that way, viewing social commentary through formal structures. Thanks! Curator: A formalist lens offers a unique depth of understanding. Thank you.