Untitled (two girls in matching outfits sitting on fence) c. 1950

Editor: This black and white photograph, simply titled "Untitled (two girls in matching outfits sitting on fence)" is credited to Lucian and Mary Brown. It shows two young girls smiling. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: I'm drawn to the materiality of this photographic print. The film's surface, the darkroom processes—they speak to a specific moment in photographic production. Consider the labor involved. Who developed this print? What were their working conditions? Editor: That's fascinating, something I wouldn't have considered! It's not just about the image, but about the means of its creation. Curator: Precisely! And how does that labor affect the perceived innocence of the girls and their matching outfits? What kind of consumption is encouraged by the image? This work encourages us to contemplate. Editor: I see, it encourages us to think about how labor, materials and consumption are related. Thank you!