Untitled (portrait of girl wearing glasses) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photographic negative, showing a girl wearing glasses, by Lucian and Mary Brown. What is striking is how this image plays with light and shadow. What does it tell us about representation and identity? Curator: Precisely. Consider how eyeglasses became a potent symbol, often associated with intelligence and social status. But, how does this association intersect with gender expectations and stereotypes of women in that era? Editor: Interesting, I had not thought about the symbolism of the glasses in that way. Curator: It's a useful lens through which to consider how power dynamics are subtly woven into everyday portraiture. Editor: Thanks, it has certainly given me a new way to view this work.