Untitled (portrait of young boy) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have an intriguing little photograph, "Untitled (portrait of young boy)" by Lucian and Mary Brown. The negative tonality gives it such a ghostly, otherworldly feel. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's like a dream, isn't it? The inversion throws me off-balance in the best way. Perhaps it speaks to the way we perceive memories—fragmented, reversed, and often illuminated by an unexpected light. Does it remind you of anyone? Editor: I think it is reminiscent of some portraits of my family members. What did you think of the dimensions? Curator: Its size, 5x4 inches, is intimate, almost like a hidden keepsake. Perhaps the artists intended us to hold it close, to ponder the boy's unknowable story, as if he's a secret we've been entrusted with. I find it quite moving. Editor: Yes, I agree. I think I learned a great deal about this image. Curator: Me, too.