Untitled (children waiting in line to buy movie tickets) c. 1950

Curator: Gould's "Untitled," a small, silver gelatin print held in the Harvard Art Museums, depicts a line of children outside a movie theater. The negative is striking. Editor: The composition’s rhythm is immediately apparent: the repeating vertical lines of the figures create a sense of anticipation. Curator: Indeed, and when considering the period, these segregated screenings become visible as sites of both pleasure and exclusion for young audiences. The movie posters advertise "Border Feud" and "Law of the Canyon." Editor: The contrast seems inverted; the world is cast in an eerie glow that almost evokes a dreamlike, surreal feeling. Curator: Absolutely. The image encapsulates a specific historical moment while also hinting at broader themes of identity and access in American culture. Editor: The starkness undeniably accentuates the emotional weight of that reality. Curator: A potent reminder of the complex layers within seemingly simple scenes. Editor: Its visual force highlights the subjective experience of that moment.