Untitled (woman in red putting curlers in hair) 1961

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, of a woman in red putting curlers in her hair. It feels like a very intimate moment, almost like a peek into her private life. What strikes you about this image? Curator: It’s interesting how an image like this, seemingly candid, still participates in constructing ideals of femininity. Consider the labor involved in achieving a particular look, and the societal pressures driving it. Who is this performance for? Editor: So, you're saying it's less about privacy and more about performing a role? Curator: Precisely. The act of putting in curlers, usually unseen, is here presented, raising questions about the public and private spheres and how women navigate them. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks for the insight. Curator: My pleasure. It's always valuable to reconsider the politics embedded in everyday images.