Untitled (boy and girl stacking blocks on counter) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, "Untitled (boy and girl stacking blocks on counter)," is attributed to Lucian and Mary Brown. It captures a seemingly simple moment. Editor: The inverted tones create an almost dreamlike quality. The children seem isolated, their play taking on a strange, symbolic weight. Curator: Indeed. Block stacking, in symbolic terms, can represent the construction of identity, building one's life, brick by brick. Editor: The stark contrast draws attention to the textures, the curtains, the children's clothes. This heightened detail gives the image an unexpected depth. It is a small picture, but visually dense. Curator: Perhaps the choice of subject reflects the Browns’ interest in the formative nature of play, the foundations of future selves being laid. Editor: And in this altered visual reality, those foundations appear both fragile and monumental, which is intriguing. Curator: An interesting tension, definitely. This image leaves much to be interpreted about these children in their constructed world. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a compelling photograph.