Untitled (rhinoceros in zoo) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have an intriguing photograph by Jack Gould, simply titled "Untitled (rhinoceros in zoo)." It’s quite small. I'm struck by the inverted tones, which give it an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality. What symbolic weight do you think these rhinos carry, existing within this zoo enclosure? Curator: The stark contrast immediately evokes a sense of displacement, doesn't it? Rhinos, symbols of untamed power and ancient lineage, confined and observed. The inverted image further amplifies this feeling, as if we are seeing a distorted reflection of our own relationship with the natural world. Editor: So, the photograph is less about the animals themselves and more about what they represent to us? Curator: Precisely. Consider the cultural memory associated with rhinos – strength, resilience, even a kind of prehistoric majesty. Now place that against the backdrop of a zoo. What narrative does that create about control, conservation, and our perception of wildness? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. It makes me question the cost of keeping these magnificent creatures for our observation. Curator: Indeed, the photograph offers a moment to contemplate the narratives and power dynamics inherent in how we interact with the animal kingdom.