Untitled (portrait of boy on chair) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, of a boy on a chair, comes to us from Lucian and Mary Brown. It's small, about 5 by 4 inches. The inversion creates such an eerie feeling. What do you make of it? Curator: I find the high contrast fascinating. It's like peering into a memory, slightly distorted, a ghost of a moment. The chair, almost throne-like, elevates this ordinary boy to something…regal? Or is it mocking him? What do you think? Editor: Mocking? It hadn't occurred to me. It's an interesting thought. Curator: Yes, the Browns were known for their playful manipulation of light and shadow, toying with perception, weren't they? It’s more than just a portrait; it’s a study of how we see. Editor: I’ll never look at a portrait the same way!