Untitled (men in control room at scientific research facility) c. 1950

Editor: This small, untitled photograph by Jack Gould captures two men in a mid-century control room, dwarfed by the machinery. It feels very cold war, very technological. What’s your take on this, given the materials and setting? Curator: I see a fascinating snapshot of labor and control. The image invites us to consider the materiality of scientific progress. Who benefits, and at what cost? What were the labor conditions like for the workers in the image? Editor: So, you're focusing on the social context and production? Curator: Precisely. The photograph itself is a material artifact, documenting a specific moment in the history of scientific labor and control. It prompts us to question the societal implications of technological advancement. Editor: I hadn't considered the worker's perspective. Thanks! Curator: It is a reminder of what we value when we look at photographs of the past.