Untitled (family picnic outside) 1953

Editor: This intriguing silver gelatin print, "Untitled (family picnic outside)" by Lucian and Mary Brown, presents a casual family gathering. The inverted tones give it a surreal quality. What can you tell us about it? Curator: Considering the material, the silver gelatin print points towards a specific era of photographic production. The picnic itself, we can examine as a site of social relations and consumption. What labor went into preparing this meal? Editor: That's fascinating! It’s more than just a snapshot of a family outing then. Curator: Exactly. Thinking about the time and resources required to stage the event, the vehicles in the background... it speaks to the material conditions of the subjects. What does that say about the American family in that period? Editor: I see how the materials and context provide a deeper understanding. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Considering all these elements really enriches the image.