Untitled (antelopes at the zoo) c. 1950

Curator: This is Jack Gould's "Untitled (antelopes at the zoo)," a small gelatin silver print held in the Harvard Art Museums. It presents a trio of antelopes. Editor: It's haunting, almost dreamlike. The inverted tones cast an eerie pall, and the antelopes seem caught in an unnatural stillness. Curator: The photograph's materiality is key. The gelatin silver process yields these stark contrasts, highlighting the constructed nature of the image itself. Editor: And considering the subject, zoo animals, we must acknowledge the socio-political context. The image reflects our problematic relationship with nature and captivity. The zoo as a curated space, a colonial imposition. Curator: Absolutely. Gould’s choice of this photographic process, combined with this particular subject matter, makes us consider the politics of display and the ethics of representation. Editor: It certainly pushes us to question the human gaze, its power to frame and confine. It's a poignant reminder of the boundaries we impose. Curator: A powerful image, one that resonates on multiple levels. Editor: Indeed.