Untitled (men at Air Force control table) c. 1950

Curator: This is Jack Gould's untitled photograph, "Men at Air Force control table," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels strangely intimate. Like a peek into a secret world, all these men in their uniforms huddled together in this padded room. Curator: The composition is indeed striking, the way Gould balances the hard lines of the equipment with the softer, almost domestic, details like the wooden table. Note the strong diagonal created by the pointing figure. Editor: The uniforms evoke authority and order, but the headphones and concentrated expressions suggest a shared dependence on technology, almost a vulnerability. The red accents feel ominous. Curator: The restricted palette adds to that feeling, certainly. The dominance of blues, greys, and that muted red, create a sense of enclosed, controlled space. Editor: It’s as if they are performing a ritual, overseen by the technological apparatus. It's a fascinating snapshot of Cold War anxiety and man's relationship with technology. Curator: Yes, and the photograph itself functions almost as a document, recording not just the scene, but also, perhaps unintentionally, a specific moment in the history of photographic practices. I'm glad we could consider it together.