Untitled (two zebras at zoo) c. 1950

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Jack Gould, showing two zebras at the zoo. The diminutive dimensions—just 6 by 6 centimeters—belie its emotional impact. Editor: The grayscale palette and confined composition evoke a feeling of melancholy. The stark contrasts also point to the animal's own black-and-white existence. Curator: Yes, the zebra's stripes, a symbol of wildness, are juxtaposed against the rigid bars of the enclosure—a potent symbol of captivity and restricted freedom. Editor: Exactly! It makes me consider the ethical implications of zoos, and the ways in which we confine and commodify animals for human entertainment. Curator: This photograph invites us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world, and the responsibility we bear towards these creatures. Editor: Indeed. It's a poignant reminder of the complex and often contradictory ways in which we interact with the animal kingdom.