Untitled (photo of women wearing dresses in front of house) c. 1950

Robert Burian's gelatin silver print captures six young women dressed for an event, likely made sometime in the mid-20th century. The image is a study in the social rituals of mid-century America. We see young women in their formal dresses, posing in front of a suburban home. This image offers a glimpse into the social conventions of the time, particularly for young women. The dresses, the posed nature of the photograph, and the setting all speak to a specific vision of middle-class life. The photograph's existence within the Harvard Art Museums speaks to how the institutions of art can elevate the everyday to the level of art. To fully understand this image, we might research the history of suburbanization in America, the changing roles of women in the mid-20th century, and the development of photography as both a documentary and artistic medium. Only through such research can we fully appreciate the social and cultural forces that shaped its creation.