Untitled (baby at desk in front of Christmas tree) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, "Untitled (baby at desk in front of Christmas tree)," comes to us from Lucian and Mary Brown. It's a gelatin silver print, diminutive at only about 4x5 inches. Editor: The tonal inversion gives it a somewhat eerie, otherworldly feel. The tinsel Christmas tree almost vibrates. Curator: Absolutely, the negative format emphasizes the materiality of early photographic processes. The image-making involved specific chemical reactions and labor. Editor: And consider the context: the staged domesticity, the performative aspect of childhood, and how it reflects societal expectations and the idealization of family. Curator: The presence of toys—a child's desk, miniature appliances—speaks to the increasing consumerism targeting children in the early to mid-20th century. Editor: It’s a fascinating glimpse into the construction of childhood and the social rituals surrounding Christmas, made all the more potent by this unusual process. Curator: It makes you consider the labor involved in setting up these kinds of domestic photographs.