Untitled (two girls in swimsuits and masks) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have Jack Gould’s petite photograph, "Untitled (two girls in swimsuits and masks)." It's a small, enigmatic work. The figures with their masks have an eerie, almost sci-fi feel, don't they? What do you make of it? Curator: Eerie is a good word. The negative space gives it a ghostly quality. It speaks to hidden selves, doesn't it? Those masks transform the familiar scene into something…else. They are shielding themselves from what? Perhaps their own vulnerabilities? Editor: That’s a cool idea! Maybe they’re like superheroes. Curator: Or maybe they're just kids playing. I like that we can't know for sure. What do you think Jack Gould wanted us to feel? Editor: This makes me consider the masks we all wear, literally and figuratively. Curator: Exactly! Art reflecting life reflecting art. Food for thought.