Untitled (baby standing and crying on ornate couch while grandfather watches) 1951

Curator: What strikes me first about this photograph by Martin Schweig, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, is its raw vulnerability. It's a small image, just about 4 by 5 inches. Editor: That screaming baby against the ornate couch looks absolutely gothic! Like a tiny tyrant ruling over decaying grandeur. What's the story here? Curator: It is a little melodramatic, isn’t it? The photo captures a baby, clearly upset, standing on a very fancy sofa while an older gentleman—presumably a grandfather—watches from the side. Editor: The couch is like a stage, and the baby's tears are the main drama. I wonder what Schweig was trying to convey with this juxtaposition of innocence and opulent surroundings. Curator: Perhaps the fleeting nature of comfort, or the universal language of childhood frustration regardless of background. It’s a poignant snapshot of everyday life, elevated by its composition. Editor: It definitely makes you think about generational divides, expectation, and maybe even the absurdity of inherited wealth. Curator: It really does capture a kind of silent tension. Editor: Yes, the photograph feels like a riddle wrapped in a tantrum, and I'm quite taken by its enigmatic power.