Untitled (exterior of model home) c. 1950

Robert Burian's small photographic print captures the exterior of a model home. This image invites us to consider the historical narrative of the ‘American Dream’ and the cultural values attached to homeownership, particularly in the post-war era. With its stark contrast, the photograph challenges the idealized imagery of suburban life. It reveals the underlying tensions between aspiration and reality. The model home, a symbol of stability and prosperity, is presented here with a certain degree of alienation and bleakness. We might ask ourselves, who was included and excluded from this dream? Whose stories were amplified, and whose were silenced? What does it mean to build a life within these walls? What kind of community does it foster, and what aspects of human experience does it overlook? The image lingers in the mind, prompting reflections on the complex relationship between our physical environments and our lived experiences.