Untitled (man in suit sitting in armchair) 1946

Curator: This photograph, by Jack Gould, is titled "Untitled (man in suit sitting in armchair)" and is currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It is a gelatin silver print, measuring approximately 5 by 4 inches. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the odd tension; the photographic negative gives it an eerie, almost ghostly pallor, while the man's attire suggests power and control. Curator: It's interesting to think about the production of this image in relation to labor. The sitter's suit speaks to specific social standing and economic possibilities, while the photographer captures it all. Editor: Right, and how does this performance of masculinity intersect with broader cultural narratives about success? It feels like a study in privilege, frozen in time through the photographic process. Curator: Yes, the material here reflects a certain amount of wealth and status. Editor: It certainly gives me a lot to think about; its starkness is particularly effective, even provocative, today. Curator: I agree. The starkness does highlight questions around class and representation.