Untitled (child drag-racing in tiny car) 1960

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, part of our collection here at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts a child in a miniature race car. Editor: It makes me smile. It’s pure Americana, that feeling of summer freedom and the thrill of speed, even if it's just a puttering go-kart. Curator: Absolutely. And that go-kart is really the point. Think about the gendered spaces of leisure in post-war America, and how that car becomes a site of aspiration. Editor: I see what you mean! It’s not just a fun snap; it reflects broader societal trends. The kid's helmet and goggles also add to the visual narrative! Curator: It's a small image, but it reflects some big ideas about childhood and gender. Editor: It makes me wonder what the kid is doing today!