Untitled (men shoveling trash behind street sweeper) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (men shoveling trash behind street sweeper)" by Jack Gould, captures a scene of labor. It’s hard to ignore the stark contrast and almost ghostly quality. What's your interpretation of this image? Curator: It strikes me as a ballet of the mundane. The inverted tones give it an ethereal quality, lifting the workers from the grittiness of their task. Do you think Gould was trying to ennoble them, or perhaps highlight a societal blind spot? Editor: I hadn't considered that. I was so focused on the technical aspect. Seeing it as a commentary adds a whole new layer. Curator: Photography allows us to frame reality, literally and figuratively. It’s a reminder that even in the ordinary, beauty and meaning can be unearthed.