Untitled (girl with Santa and Christmas tree) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, by Lucian and Mary Brown, presents a curious, reversed image of a Christmas scene. The Harvard Art Museums lists it simply as “Untitled (girl with Santa and Christmas tree).” Editor: It strikes me as spectral, almost unsettling. The inverted tones give it a ghostly quality. Who are these figures frozen in this strange holiday tableau? Curator: Consider the symbol of Santa, a composite figure derived from Saint Nicholas, a figure of generosity. Here, he is almost drained of color, his beneficence rendered… other. Editor: But Santa's presence, even inverted, speaks to consumerism, to the commodification of childhood joy during the holiday season. Look at the abundance of wrapped gifts. Curator: Indeed. The tree, usually a symbol of life and light, is here transformed. Yet, the image retains a certain power; the reversed tones create a striking visual memory. Editor: And the girl herself; her gaze feels both innocent and accusatory. What is she thinking about this staged moment? I wonder about the power dynamics inherent in it. Curator: Perhaps, by reversing the expected, the Browns invite us to reflect on the cultural constructs we often take for granted. Editor: It leaves me pondering the gap between idealized representations and the complex realities of lived experience, even within a seemingly innocent holiday scene.