Untitled (chimp playing the drums) c. 1950

Curator: Jack Gould’s small, six-by-six-centimeter photograph from the Harvard Art Museums collection presents us with a chimp enthusiastically playing the drums. It's simply titled "Untitled (chimp playing the drums)." Editor: Oh my goodness, look at that little guy go! The zebra-striped vest is almost too much, but somehow works. It’s like a tiny, furry jazz explosion in monochrome. Curator: Indeed. It’s important to consider the historical context. Images of primates, often racialized, have a long history in popular culture, frequently used to reinforce dehumanizing stereotypes. Editor: True, there's that ugly history. But I can't help but see a glimmer of defiant joy in his performance, like he's wailing against the very expectations placed upon him. Curator: I think that reading is viable, especially when considering the performative nature of identity and the ways in which marginalized figures have historically used art as a vehicle for resistance. Editor: It is a small piece with powerful undertones. Art can surprise you. Curator: Absolutely, it encourages us to engage critically with our own preconceptions and assumptions.