Untitled (men standing around hanging dead deer) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (men standing around hanging dead deer)" by Jack Gould, shows exactly what the title says. It’s quite a stark image. What kind of story do you think it’s trying to tell? Curator: Well, without a date, we can only speculate about the historical context. The presence of a uniformed officer suggests a possible examination of hunting regulations, or perhaps even a commentary on rural authority. Editor: Authority? Curator: Yes, consider the staged nature. Are they presenting the deer as evidence, or trophies? Does the public display of the animal reinforce power dynamics within the community? Editor: That's a good point; I hadn't thought about it that way. Curator: Also, the image's distribution through institutions like the Harvard Art Museums – what does that say about how we frame and consume these rural scenes today? Editor: It definitely gives me a lot to consider. Thanks!