Untitled (people in costume at Beaux Arts Ball, Native American and Hawaiian costumes) c. 1950

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It shows people in costume at a Beaux Arts Ball, with some dressed in Native American and Hawaiian attire. Editor: My first impression is a certain awkwardness. The composition feels very posed, and the color palette, while vibrant, adds to the overall slightly unsettling mood. Curator: Indeed. The photograph’s power resides in its capturing of a specific moment in time, revealing the complex social dynamics around cultural appropriation and representation. We are prompted to question the colonial gaze inherent in such displays. Editor: Absolutely. The costumes themselves, with their inaccurate and stereotypical portrayals, demonstrate a superficial understanding of diverse cultures. The photograph serves as a stark reminder of the historical insensitivity that continues to affect contemporary society. Curator: Yet, from a formal perspective, the composition is striking, with the figures arranged in a manner that draws the eye across the frame, highlighting the contrasting textures and forms. Editor: Agreed. But it's impossible to separate the formal elements from the problematic content. It's a visual lesson in the power of context. Curator: A potent example of how art can provoke critical self-reflection.