Untitled (portrait of Lena Horne singing on stage, full length view) c. 1945

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, a portrait of Lena Horne singing. It's a striking image, but what catches my eye is how the negative space almost overwhelms her figure. What do you make of this? Curator: Considering this image, I wonder about the photographic process itself. What chemicals, what labor, what techniques went into rendering Lena Horne this way? The very materiality speaks to a specific moment in photographic production, reflecting a certain social context of both the artist and the subject. Editor: So, you're less focused on Horne's performance and more on the photo's creation? Curator: Precisely. The photograph is not just a representation, but a product. It encapsulates the means of production. Editor: That's a different way to look at it; I was so caught up in the image itself. Curator: Reflecting on the image through the lens of its creation can unlock new meaning.