Untitled (portrait of Mary Brown with children, outside) by Lucian and Mary Brown

Untitled (portrait of Mary Brown with children, outside)

1955

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Artwork details

Dimensions
10.16 x 12.7 cm (4 x 5 in.)
Location
Harvard Art Museums
Copyright
CC0 1.0

About this artwork

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (portrait of Mary Brown with children, outside)" by Lucian and Mary Brown, is a small, striking image. The family portrait feels both familiar and ghostly. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a challenge to traditional portraiture. The image's reversal and lack of context invite us to question who is represented and what their social position might be. Editor: Could it be a statement about identity? Curator: Absolutely. Perhaps the artists are commenting on the performative nature of identity, especially within the constraints of family and societal expectations. The image's ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations. Editor: That's such a compelling point, thank you. Curator: Thank you. It is important to remember that art has the capacity to question and reveal the world.

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