Untitled (one boy pulling another boy in wagon) c. 1950

Editor: So this is an untitled photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, it depicts one boy pulling another in a wagon. It feels nostalgic, almost like a scene from a simpler time. What strikes you about this image? Curator: It's fascinating how a seemingly innocent scene can reveal complex social dynamics. What does it mean, for instance, to see these children positioned in roles of labor and leisure? What does this say about labor, race and class? Editor: That's a really interesting point, I hadn't considered that. Curator: And what about the wagon itself, a Radio Flyer. Do you see its role in constructing ideas of childhood and consumerism? Perhaps, it can offer a critique of idyllic Americana. Editor: Now I see it, this photograph makes me think about the history of childhood.