Untitled (children standing behind screen door) 1958

Editor: This is an intriguing photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, simply titled "Untitled (children standing behind screen door)." It's a small black and white print, and the negative effect gives it an eerie quality. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the materiality here. The photographic process itself is paramount, the way light interacts with the film, the chemicals used in development. How does the image's creation relate to class, labor, and accessibility to photography during the time it was made? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. So, you're less focused on the children themselves and more on the means of production? Curator: Precisely. The means through which the image came into being and what it reflects about the broader culture of image-making. What does mass production of photography contribute to society’s view of children? Editor: I see your point. Thinking about it as a product of its time changes my understanding of the image entirely. Thanks for the insight!