Untitled (mother putting make-up on daughter in skirt) c. 1947

Editor: This photograph by Jack Gould, simply titled "Untitled (mother putting make-up on daughter in skirt)," captures a seemingly tender moment. It feels staged, though. What narratives of femininity do you think Gould is exploring here? Curator: It's unsettling, isn't it? The mother's action, set against the backdrop of other girls, speaks volumes about the pressures placed on young women to conform. Is this maternal love, or the perpetuation of patriarchal beauty standards? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way, but the performative aspect is definitely there. Curator: Exactly. And the title itself is loaded, reducing the subjects to their roles and appearance. It prompts us to question the societal forces at play in shaping identity. Editor: It makes me think about how these expectations continue to evolve, or maybe not evolve, even today.