The Brown Sisters, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1989

Editor: This gelatin silver print is “The Brown Sisters, Cambridge, Massachusetts” from 1989, taken by Nicholas Nixon. It's striking in its directness. The four sisters look right at the camera, unsmiling. What makes this particular photograph significant to you? Curator: What I see here, Editor, is a powerful example of how photography can serve as a social document, chronicling the passage of time and the shifts in personal relationships. Nixon’s project, beginning in 1975 and continuing annually, speaks to the evolving roles of women within the family and the broader socio-cultural landscape. Do you notice the context – how these annual photographs accumulated over time – affects your understanding? Editor: Absolutely. Knowing that this is part of a larger series makes it even more poignant. The stoicism in their faces, repeated year after year, becomes incredibly compelling. Is it just me, or does this remind you a bit of August Sander's typologies? Curator: That’s a fantastic connection to make! Both Nixon and Sander use portraiture to document society, but Nixon introduces the element of time and personal connection. Sander aimed for a social cross-section, while Nixon focuses on the intimate and changing dynamics of one family. Do you think the annual nature of the project changes our expectations for these images, compared to, say, a one-off family portrait? Editor: It does. It sets up this anticipation, and, inevitably, a reflection on aging and change. Something feels incredibly raw about witnessing that progression over so many years. Curator: Precisely. The social impact here resides not just in capturing the physical changes, but also the unspoken narratives – the evolving styles, shifting relationships, and the visible marks of life experiences. It prompts viewers to reflect on their own family dynamics and the social constructions of womanhood. Editor: I hadn’t fully appreciated how this yearly ritual and consistent photographic style builds social meaning. Thank you for clarifying that. Curator: My pleasure. It's photographs like these that blur the lines between personal history and social commentary in such interesting ways.