Untitled (deer in snow) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have an intriguing, undated photograph, "Untitled (deer in snow)" by Lucian and Mary Brown. It's small, almost like a snapshot, but the inverted tones create a strange, dreamlike mood. What strikes you about the means of its making? Curator: The reversal is key. It calls attention to the photographic process itself, the labor and materials involved. It’s not just a representation of nature, but a record of a chemical and mechanical process, influenced by the social context of amateur photography at the time. Editor: So, seeing it as a product, not just a picture? Curator: Exactly! The reversal forces us to acknowledge the labor and material involved. We see the "making" of the art as much as the "art" itself. Editor: I never considered that the process could be so much part of the meaning. Curator: Think about the social context and consumption of photography at the time. It definitely brings new layers to the piece.