Untitled (children riding flat roller coaster at amusement park) 1947

Editor: This intriguing photograph by Jack Gould captures children on a roller coaster. The inverted tones create a somewhat eerie effect, but I'm drawn to the details of the children's clothing. What can you tell me about the materials and process in this work? Curator: Consider the photographic process itself. The chemicals, the paper, the darkroom—these are all materials that mediated Gould's vision. The industrial production of film and amusement parks reflects specific social and economic forces at play. How does this influence the art? Editor: So, you're saying the materials used and the context of an amusement park reflect broader societal trends of production and consumption. That gives me a lot to think about! Curator: Exactly. The materiality of the photograph and the social context of leisure intersect in this image, prompting us to examine their relationship.