Untitled (archbishop seated in St. Louis cathedral) c. 1946

Editor: This photographic print by Jack Gould pictures an archbishop seated in St. Louis Cathedral. The negative effect is quite striking, and I am curious what it reveals. What do you see in this image? Curator: Well, beyond the immediate religious context, consider the labor involved. Someone meticulously exposed and developed this film, handling potentially toxic chemicals. The choice of materials—film stock, developer—shapes the image as much as the subject. Editor: That's a fascinating perspective. Does the photographic process itself influence our interpretation? Curator: Absolutely. The means of production impacts how we perceive the final image and the events it depicts. The negative space highlights the materiality of the photograph as an object, not just a representation. Editor: I never thought about it that way. I see the image and not the process. Curator: Precisely!