Untitled (baby in rolling chair) c. 1950

Curator: This is an untitled photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It depicts a baby in a rolling chair, measuring about 5x4 inches. Editor: The image is haunting, like a memory fading. The negative exposure emphasizes form, almost rendering the baby as a ghost in the machine of its childhood. Curator: Indeed, the Browns seem interested in capturing a specific time period. The presence of the rolling chair and even the decorations behind it become artifacts of mid-century domesticity. Editor: Absolutely. This photo speaks to the material culture of child-rearing. What was the experience of this baby within that industrial design? What meaning did the parents derive from this purchase and image? Curator: It also brings up the question of accessibility. These objects and images were not available for everyone. The Browns were interested in capturing their own time and social standing. Editor: I think you are right. This image shows the story of a family, but at the same time, it’s also a display of social structures and material wealth from that period.