Untitled (two women modeling fashionable clothes in indoor rainforest) 1961

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing two models in fashionable clothes in what looks like an indoor rainforest. It’s quite small, only a couple of inches square. What catches your eye? Curator: I'm fascinated by how the image engages with materiality. The juxtaposition of the manufactured clothing and the cultivated environment raises questions about production. Who made these garments, and under what conditions? Editor: So, you see the image as a commentary on consumerism and labor? Curator: Precisely. The construction of both the clothing and the rainforest reflect deliberate choices of materials and labor, prompting us to consider their social context. What is being bought and sold here? Editor: I see what you mean. The artifice is everywhere. Curator: Right, and thinking about the economic systems at play helps us understand the image's broader significance. Editor: It’s amazing how much you can read into such a small photograph. I’ll definitely look at fashion photography differently now.