Untitled (head of mule seen from the front) c. 1950

Editor: This is Jack Gould’s black and white photograph, "Untitled (head of mule seen from the front)." The mule seems to stare right through you. What do you see in this portrait? Curator: I see a loaded symbol. The mule, often associated with stubbornness and burden-bearing, carries centuries of cultural weight. What stories of labor and perseverance does its gaze evoke for you? Editor: I hadn't thought about that. It makes me consider the animal's historical role. So, it is not just an image of a mule? Curator: Indeed, the artist uses the mule as a potent emblem. Do you notice anything about how the head dominates the frame, almost confrontational? Editor: Now that you mention it, the upward angle does seem to give it power. I will remember this image differently. Curator: Understanding the symbolic language transforms our viewing experience, doesn't it?