Untitled (girls playing dress-up and trying on clothes) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing girls playing dress-up. It feels like a memory, almost dreamlike. What symbols jump out at you? Curator: The dresses themselves are potent symbols. They speak of aspiration, the performance of identity, and the imitation of adulthood. Note how the photograph is in negative, which can be interpreted as the inverse of reality, or perhaps even childhood dreams. Editor: So, it's about more than just playing dress-up? Curator: Consider the cultural weight of clothing, the stories they tell about class, gender, and even power. The girls are experimenting with these roles, trying on different versions of themselves. Do you feel any sense of nostalgia looking at this? Editor: Absolutely. It reminds me of my own childhood. I never considered it in terms of cultural symbols before.