Untitled (crowd of pedestrians walking down city street) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (crowd of pedestrians walking down city street)" by Jack Gould, shows a bustling street scene, but the reversed tones make it feel ghostly. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look closely at the clothing. Mass-produced coats and hats signify the rise of consumer culture. The photographic process itself – the chemicals, the paper – were also mass-produced commodities. Consider how the labor involved in creating the image reflects larger economic systems. Editor: So, the photograph is commenting on consumerism and the economy? Curator: Precisely. The everyday act of walking down a street becomes intertwined with the means of production and consumption that shaped the era. Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at something so seemingly simple. Curator: Indeed, materiality and making, and the impact on consumption, are ever-present.