Untitled (two women modeling bathing suits in tropical setting) 1961

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing two women in bathing suits set against a tropical backdrop. It looks like a fashion shot. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: This image offers a glimpse into the constructed nature of idealized beauty and commercial imagery. The tropical setting, likely artificial, frames the models as objects of desire, reflecting the post-war consumer culture. Do you think the artifice of the scene challenges its supposed naturalness? Editor: Absolutely, the women seem posed like dolls in a staged environment, highlighting the artificiality of the aspirational image. Thank you! Curator: Indeed! Thinking about the socio-political factors at play really opens up how we read the image.