Untitled (man in tophat and suit with cane, standing on stairs ) c. 1947

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small gelatin silver print, only about 5.7 by 5.7 centimeters. Editor: The stark contrast immediately creates a sense of theatricality. The man’s pose, the lighting, it all feels very staged, almost like a play. Curator: Precisely. Given its format, one could imagine this photograph serving a very personal function for the sitter. Perhaps even as a calling card, or a memento. Editor: The geometric interplay of the staircase against the shadow on the wall is interesting; the sharp, angled shadow mimics the angle of the staircase but is not a perfect match, creating an interesting distortion. Curator: Indeed, the play with perspective and the sitter's calculated placement within this constructed space speaks volumes about the socio-cultural aspirations embodied in Gould's work. Editor: I suppose the lighting, the angle, all the formal elements underscore the subject’s self-assured presence. Curator: It's a powerful study in self-presentation, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely, it is a carefully constructed identity frozen in time.