Untitled (child pointing at fake fairy-tale frog) c. 1950

Curator: Let's consider the fairy tale frog through the eyes of the child. What expectations have been set for her about gender roles, and how does this encounter with artifice potentially challenge or reinforce those roles? Editor: This gelatin silver print by Jack Gould, titled "Untitled (child pointing at fake fairy-tale frog)," seems to create an unsettling atmosphere. The child appears to be interacting with something not quite real. What do you make of this staged encounter? Curator: It's fascinating how Gould captures this tension between reality and constructed narratives. What do you think the child is learning about the world and its stories in this staged setting, and how might this impact her developing sense of self? Is this about commodified childhood, or something more? Editor: That's a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing your insight! Curator: Likewise. It’s critical to understand the social impact of these seemingly innocent interactions.