Untitled (man dressed as Santa Claus with children on sleigh) c. 1950

Editor: So, here we have an untitled photograph by Jack Gould of Santa with some children on a sleigh. It’s quite small, only 6x6 cm. There's a nostalgic, almost dreamlike quality to it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! It’s like a half-remembered Christmas from childhood, isn't it? Look at the graininess, the slight blur. It feels wonderfully imperfect. I'm wondering, what’s *real* here? Is Santa genuine, or just a kind neighbor playing dress-up? And what does that say about the magic we create for ourselves? Editor: That's lovely. I hadn't thought about the staged versus real aspect. Curator: Ultimately, I see a beautiful meditation on belief, on the stories we tell, and on the enduring power of simple moments. It's a gentle reminder that sometimes, the magic is in the *attempt* at magic. Editor: Absolutely. Now I see it in a completely different way. Thanks!