Untitled (man sitting at desk and smoking a pipe) c. 1948

Curator: This intriguing, albeit small, gelatin silver print is called "Untitled (man sitting at desk and smoking a pipe)" by Jack Gould. Editor: It feels like a forgotten dream—that ghostly reversed image, the man suspended in thought, the pipe a strange, detached limb. Curator: The pipe is interesting, isn’t it? Smoking rituals are so loaded. Here, it suggests contemplation, perhaps even a reaching for inner wisdom. Editor: Or a desperate attempt to fill a void with smoke! Seriously, though, it’s odd how the negative space amplifies the sense of isolation, even in an office. Curator: I agree, there is something about the inversion that highlights the alienation of modern work life, a subtle, yet pervasive discomfort. Editor: Right? It’s more than just a portrait; it’s a little theater of the mind, played out in monochrome and smoky breaths. Curator: I wouldn't have thought about it that way, but I do now. Thanks. Editor: My pleasure.