Untitled (construction of large concrete overpass; cars beneath) c. 1950

Curator: This intriguing, undated photograph by Jack Gould, held here at the Harvard Art Museums, depicts the construction of a large concrete overpass, with cars passing beneath. It's quite striking, isn't it? Editor: It's stark, industrial—almost brutalist in its aesthetic. The inverted tones definitely amplify the sense of cold, unyielding concrete. I'm interested in the labor behind a structure like this. Curator: Absolutely. There's a tension here, a sense of human ambition wrestling with the materiality of the world. The negative image almost renders the overpass as an apparition, a monument in progress. Editor: The image demands that we think about the concrete itself – the aggregate, the mix, the labor required. What kind of environmental impact did such a colossal project have? Curator: A good point. It's a testament to human ingenuity, yes, but also a reminder of our ceaseless reshaping of the landscape. One can’t help but feel the weight of progress here. Editor: I see now how Gould has presented a document of not just what was built, but also the material cost of building, and the hands that made it possible.