Untitled (man sitting on chair and smoking a pipe) c. 1948

Editor: So, this is an Untitled photograph by Jack Gould, it pictures a man smoking a pipe. It's a small gelatin silver print. It has a strong sense of mid-century formality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a careful performance of masculinity, constructed through sartorial choices and the very deliberate act of smoking. Consider the labor involved in producing the suit, the pipe, even the tobacco, and how that intersects with class and societal expectations. Editor: That's interesting! It makes me think about the consumerism in this image. Thanks for your insight! Curator: Indeed. Reflecting on the material conditions that shape identity is crucial.