Untitled (portait of parents and children on couch) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, titled "Untitled (portrait of parents and children on couch)" by Lucian and Mary Brown, shows an interesting composition. It's presented as a negative. I wonder what we can learn from this particular choice. How does the presentation as a negative affect our perception? Curator: The negative presentation certainly shifts our perception. In the context of family portraits, which are often about presenting an ideal image for public consumption, the reversal offers a glimpse behind the scenes, the artist's process, or a less polished reality. It asks us to consider the layers of representation and the politics of displaying a family, doesn't it? Editor: Yes, I never would have considered that! It’s almost like seeing the unseen, a raw version of a carefully constructed image. Curator: Exactly! Perhaps the Browns were commenting on the very act of creating a family portrait, or perhaps they were just experimenting with photographic techniques of the time. Either way, it prompts us to think about the family, the public image and private realities of the Browns. Editor: That makes me look at family portraits in a new light. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure, it's all about the social context.