Untitled (baby putting on shoes) c. 1950

Curator: This is an Untitled photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. It depicts a baby putting on shoes. Editor: It's striking, isn't it? The textures jump out—the fuzzy carpet, the smooth skin, the sturdy shoes. You can almost feel the cool, smooth leather and the effort of pulling it on. Curator: Indeed. Consider how vernacular photography like this captures domestic life, shaping ideals around family and childhood in the mid-20th century. Editor: And what about the shoemaking itself? Those little shoes represent skilled labor, material production, and even a whole industry devoted to children's footwear. It is no small thing. Curator: Right, and this image enters circulation, adding to the visual culture that influences how we think about progress and family. Editor: Seeing this photograph has made me newly aware of how everyday objects are constructed, both physically and ideologically. Curator: And for me, it underscores the power of images in shaping our understanding of normalcy and development.