Untitled (chimp playing the piano) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (chimp playing the piano)" by Jack Gould, from the Harvard Art Museums, is striking. What I find interesting is the performative aspect of it, using a chimpanzee. What are your thoughts on this piece? Curator: The chimp’s performance raises questions about labor and spectacle. The very act of staging this image relies on systems of control and commodification, doesn't it? How does the context—the circus, perhaps—shape our understanding of the chimp’s role? Editor: It makes you wonder about the exploitation inherent in the production of this image, and the social commentary it inadvertently provides. Curator: Exactly. It forces us to confront the materials, the labor, and the cultural narratives at play. A seemingly simple image reveals a complex web of social and economic relationships.