Untitled (baby fawns and seated cow) c. 1950

Editor: This striking gelatin silver print, "Untitled (baby fawns and seated cow)" by Jack Gould, is incredibly small. The negative presentation gives the image a spectral quality. What can you tell me about the making and meaning of this work? Curator: Notice how the inversion of tones emphasizes the texture of the grass and the animals' fur, transforming something pastoral into an almost alien landscape. The labor and materials involved in creating this photograph, from the darkroom chemicals to the specific paper used, highlight the hand of the artist and the social context of photographic production itself. Editor: That's a fascinating point. It shifts my perspective entirely. Curator: Indeed, considering the means of production allows us to question the seemingly objective nature of photography, revealing its constructed reality. Editor: I will definitely consider that in my research.