Untitled (two scientists looking into large tank) 1962

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It shows two scientists peering into a large, luminous tank. Editor: The first impression is striking. The cool blue tones create an atmosphere of both scientific rigor and an almost otherworldly mystery. Curator: The image really speaks to the post-war fascination with science and technology. Note the scientists' lab coats, signifying authority and knowledge, but also their role as workers within a larger system of production and governance. Editor: Absolutely. It raises questions about power, knowledge production, and even the potential dangers of scientific advancement, given the historical context. The lack of a title almost suggests an unwillingness to confront these ethical ambiguities. Curator: And the image itself as a manufactured object, a product of photographic processes, invites us to consider the material conditions through which we view and interpret scientific endeavors. Editor: It truly prompts reflection on the complex interplay of science, society, and representation. Curator: Indeed, the layers of meaning are quite compelling.