Untitled (man shaking woman's hand at party) c. 1950

Curator: This is an intriguing photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums; it's entitled "Untitled (man shaking woman's hand at party)." Editor: It feels so formal, almost ritualistic, in this negative exposure. Like a transaction frozen in time. Curator: Indeed, the handshake itself is a potent symbol. Think of its long history, signifying agreement, peace, even power dynamics. What does it evoke here? Editor: In the context of a party, perhaps acceptance, or a sealing of social bonds? But the inverted tones also suggest a hidden, possibly uneasy, subtext. Curator: The materiality of the photographic process itself is key. The darkroom labor, the chemical reactions, all contribute to this ethereal aesthetic, transforming a social event into something almost otherworldly. It makes one question what labor went into making this image. Editor: I agree, and this shift in tones makes us think about the symbolic weight. Ultimately, this image reflects social exchange and artistic labor. Curator: Looking at it, I am struck by the layers of meaning embedded within a simple gesture. Editor: It leaves you considering the complex layers within a seemingly simple captured moment.