Untitled (chimp performing tricks on ball) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph by Jack Gould, titled "Untitled (chimp performing tricks on ball)," captures a chimp in what appears to be a circus setting. The stark black and white tones give it a somewhat unsettling quality. What strikes you about this image? Curator: The photograph evokes a complex response. The performing chimpanzee, a potent symbol, carries historical baggage - representing both entertainment and exploitation. Do you notice the backdrop? Editor: Yes, it's rather artificial. Curator: Indeed. The painted tropical scene clashes with the mechanical apparatus overhead, suggesting a manufactured paradise. The chimp's performance, then, becomes a symbol of humanity's control and the animal's alienation. What feelings does that juxtaposition evoke for you? Editor: It makes me think about our evolving understanding of animals and performance, something I hadn't considered so deeply before.