Untitled (Lena Horne singing, wearing evening gown) c. 1950

Curator: Ah, the sheer drama of it all! It's a small gelatin silver print, just 6 by 19 cm, by Jack Gould, titled "Untitled (Lena Horne singing, wearing evening gown)." Editor: The dress looks almost molten, like liquid metal draped just so. The light catches the folds beautifully. I'm curious about the fabric itself – was it chosen for its reflective qualities, or was that just captured in the printing process? Curator: I imagine the material held a certain sway, yes. But it's Horne's expression, that open-mouthed joy, that truly sings. It leaps off the print. Editor: Absolutely. It's a poised image, but it speaks to a culture of glamour and the machinery that produced it. Those gowns didn't make themselves, and the film stock wasn't cheap. Curator: It’s magic, nonetheless! A captured moment, as if to say, "Here I am, singing my heart out." Editor: Well, I see the magic, and I also see the labor, the resources, the cultural moment that allowed for such magic to be captured and consumed. It’s a compelling duality.