Untitled (man holding baby chimp) c. 1950

Curator: Here we have an untitled work by Jack Gould, depicting a man holding a baby chimpanzee. The dimensions are quite intimate, only 6 x 6 cm. Editor: It's haunting, this small photographic negative. The inversion of light and shadow, with the stark white figures against the darker background, lends an ethereal quality. Curator: It's interesting to consider the labor involved, even in such a small format. The photographic process itself, the materials used - the film, the chemicals - all contribute to its existence as a physical object. And what of the labor to care for the animals involved in this image? Editor: Absolutely. And the chimpanzee, cradled in the man's arms, becomes an almost Christ-like figure, a symbol of innocence and vulnerability. The reversal of values heightens that sense. Curator: It forces us to consider the social context, the history of humans and primates, our relationship to animals, and the means by which images like this are created and consumed. Editor: It's a potent image that lingers, despite its diminutive size. One to contemplate long after one has moved on. Curator: Indeed, a piece that invites reflection on the many hands involved.