Untitled (architectural model of city, seen from above) c. 1950

Curator: Immediately, the stark contrast grabs me, it's a compelling black and white study. Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts an architectural model of a city viewed from above. Curator: The composition is so striking, the sharp angles of the frame contrasting with the intricate grid of the city model. Editor: The framing itself suggests a critical perspective, isolating the model as an object of study, a commodity even. Think of the labor involved in its creation, the societal structures it represents. Curator: I see a different kind of structure; the play of light and shadow creates depth and pulls the eye across the city’s miniature landscape. Editor: Perhaps Gould wanted us to consider the real-world implications, the processes of urban planning and their effects on communities. Curator: Regardless, the image is powerful in its simplicity. Editor: Indeed, it offers much to consider about the built environment and the systems that shape it.