Untitled (bridge construcion) c. 1950

Curator: This silver gelatin print by Jack Gould, titled "Untitled (bridge construction)," captures a bridge in the midst of being built. Editor: It's compelling! The black and white palette creates a strong sense of industrial grit and ambition, don't you think? Curator: Absolutely. The photograph shows us how bridges were assembled, highlighting the labor and materials involved in infrastructure. There are many unseen workers. Editor: Right, it speaks volumes about progress and the reshaping of urban spaces, often at the expense of marginalized communities who bear the brunt of such construction. Curator: True, but seeing the raw materiality reminds me that art, like this bridge, is always a product of material processes and social conditions. Editor: It's a stark reminder that every structure, whether physical or social, has a complex and often contested history. Curator: A history of production and labor, as well as displacement and progress. Editor: Precisely. I'm left thinking about who benefits from these grand designs, and at what cost.