Untitled (girls doing relay-race on stilts) 1955

Editor: This silver gelatin print by Jack Gould captures what appears to be a stilt race, with the figures oddly inverted. What compositional elements stand out to you in this piece? Curator: The high contrast immediately draws the eye. The reversal of tones lends an air of abstraction to an otherwise quotidian scene. Notice how the verticality of the stilts is echoed by the implied lines of the race track, creating a structured, almost geometric space. Editor: I see what you mean! What does that structure communicate? Curator: The rigid geometry perhaps speaks to the regulated nature of competition. The Kodak Safety Film markings on the border also become part of the visual narrative, framing the event within the medium itself. What are your thoughts? Editor: I hadn't considered that! It’s interesting how the formal elements create a dialogue with the subject matter.