Untitled (lion on ledge inside large metal cage) c. 1950

Curator: Looking at this black and white photograph, the first thing I see is loneliness—a caged lion, its fur almost glowing, sitting on a ledge. Editor: This is an untitled work by Jack Gould, and it depicts a lion on a ledge inside a large metal cage. There's a second lion visible in the background. Curator: The cage bars become almost like a net, a suffocating presence. The animal's gaze is direct, challenging. It’s an ancient symbol of power made powerless. Editor: Absolutely. The lion, a symbol of royalty and strength, is confined. It evokes complex emotions regarding control, domination, and the loss of natural grandeur. Curator: I feel a deep sadness seeing it this way, as though the photograph itself is a cage. Editor: I agree. There is a poignant beauty here, but ultimately the photograph captures a feeling of melancholic imprisonment.