Untitled (two babies on couch) c. 1950

Editor: Woah, this image has an eerie vibe, almost like a haunting. Is it supposed to be unsettling? Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the representation of childhood and its cultural context. Editor: Childhood? Really? One baby seems terrified! I wonder what the story is behind the camera, or what's making them so upset. Curator: The reversed tones certainly amplify a sense of unease. It prompts us to consider societal expectations placed on children and how vulnerability can be exploited or overlooked. Editor: It's strangely beautiful in its discomfort. Like a memory playing backwards, revealing something we didn't see before. I like this photo. Curator: Absolutely. The Browns invite us to reconsider the power dynamics at play, and to question the idealization of innocence.