Untitled (boy outside house) c. 1950

Curator: This rather unassuming photographic print, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums, is simply titled "Untitled (boy outside house)" by Lucian and Mary Brown. Editor: It has an eerie quality, doesn't it? The reversed tones cast a spectral pall over the scene, though the boy's grin hints at youthful exuberance. Curator: The inverted image prompts questions about the production itself. What choices led to this reversal? Was it a deliberate artistic act? Editor: Perhaps a simple darkroom error? Yet, the image's circulation within the Browns' broader body of work suggests something more. How does this choice influence its reception, its meaning? Curator: Consider the material constraints—the specific chemicals, papers, and equipment available to the Browns. Understanding these factors grounds our interpretation. Editor: Indeed. By considering the socio-cultural context of the Browns' time, we can glean new insight into the political implications of image-making. Curator: A deeper look at its materiality and making is certainly warranted. Editor: A lot to think about for one small inverted photograph.