Untitled (baby in bath tub with washcloth) c. 1950

Curator: Here we have an Untitled work by Lucian and Mary Brown, a small gelatin silver print, part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you about it? Editor: The stark contrast immediately makes me think of the precariousness of childhood. It's as if the innocence of a baby in a bathtub is amplified by the unsettling nature of the image. Curator: Indeed. The photographic process itself—gelatin silver—affects the image, creating this play between light and dark, almost like a negative of a memory. You can almost feel the hand-crafted nature of the print. Editor: I agree. This image touches on the complex relationships within a family. It makes me wonder about the dynamic between caregiver and child and the politics of domesticity. Curator: It makes us think about the labour involved in producing such a seemingly simple image. Editor: It's a humble scene, made striking. Curator: Absolutely, it's a work that encourages reflection on both process and context. Editor: A photograph to make one contemplate the emotional weight carried by the mundane moments of our lives.