Untitled (man sitting at desk talking on telephone) c. 1950

Editor: This untitled photograph by Jack Gould shows a man on the telephone at his desk. The negative space really emphasizes the formality of the setting. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: The portrait on the wall speaks volumes. Who is he? What legacy does he represent to the man at the desk? The horses also draw my eye, they seem to represent forward momentum. Editor: It's interesting how you interpret those symbols as connected to legacy and action, shaping the image's narrative. Curator: Images are never neutral; they are imbued with cultural and personal meaning. It is through these symbols that the past speaks to the present.