Untitled (woman holding hats next to large hat display) 1952

Curator: Oh, my first thought? This photograph has a certain...haunted elegance. Editor: That's a perfect description. This is an untitled image by Jack Gould, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It depicts a woman with hats in front of a large display. It’s striking how the hats almost seem to float. Curator: It’s like she’s surrounded by a flurry of possibilities. Do you think this photograph was taken in a department store or a milliner’s shop? The hats make me think of old movies, and the social rituals around dressing up. Editor: Exactly, this image, despite its modest size, captures a moment when fashion was an essential form of social expression, particularly for women defining their roles. Curator: Absolutely. I love how Gould captured that in-between space where fashion meets aspiration. This image whispers secrets of a bygone era. Editor: And reminds us that even everyday scenes can reveal hidden cultural narratives.