Untitled (adult helping child with polio learn to walk) 1947

Curator: Jack Gould's small, silver gelatin print captures an adult helping a child with polio to walk. There's no date attached, but the image feels heavy, burdened. Editor: It does, doesn’t it? The stark contrast, the institutional setting... it whispers of resilience but screams of the obstacles faced by people living with polio. It's quite affecting. Curator: Absolutely. Polio was a very public health crisis, heavily politicized due to the social impact of disability. Here, Gould's tight framing and inverted tones seem to amplify the child's vulnerability. Editor: And the adult’s determination. I can almost feel the strain, the hope hanging in the air. It's a moment of profound humanity, really. Curator: Yes, a powerful reminder of societal responses to disability, and the quiet courage of individuals navigating these challenges. Editor: It makes you wonder about the countless untold stories of those affected by the disease, doesn't it? The human stories behind the historical narrative.