Untitled (workers marching in strike on city street, holding signs) c. 1950

Curator: I’m immediately struck by the starkness of this image. The light and shadow create a palpable sense of tension. Editor: Indeed. This is an untitled photograph, attributed to Jack Gould, that captures workers marching in strike on a city street. We believe it is a gelatin silver print. The dimensions are quite small, only about 6 by 6 centimeters. Curator: The image feels archetypal. The crowd of workers, holding signs, symbolizes collective action and the struggle for better conditions. There is something hopeful and unsettling here. Editor: Given the apparent age of the subjects and clothing, it would be interesting to know the social circumstances of that labour and what the strike was about. The negative itself looks like a historical document. Curator: Absolutely. The absence of a clear date and the photograph’s diminutive size almost amplify its symbolic weight. It becomes a memento—a reminder of the ongoing struggle for rights and dignity. Editor: It is true that, beyond the image, it’s really about the labour and intent that went into not just the labour strike but also the making of a photograph that could document it. Curator: I find myself pondering the psychological impact of such images on those who view them. They tap into our shared desire for justice. Editor: And I am thinking about the physical act of creation, and how that adds to the value and the meaning of the image.