Untitled (exterior of Cape Cod style house and fence) c. 1950

Robert Burian created this untitled photograph of a Cape Cod style house of modest size and a sparse fence. Without any information regarding its date, we can only infer that this photograph may be the manifestation of the American Dream. This aesthetic emerged in the early to mid-20th century when the United States experienced rapid suburbanization, fueled by post-World War II economic prosperity and government policies promoting homeownership. The Cape Cod style house became synonymous with middle-class identity, embodying values of stability and family life. But who had access to this dream? Burian’s photographic style, rendering the house and its surroundings in stark monochrome, invites us to reflect on these themes. Does it uphold traditional representations of suburban life, or does it offer a more critical perspective on the accessibility and implications of the American Dream? The fence itself suggests a boundary, asking us to think about inclusion, exclusion, and what it means to call a place home.