Untitled (portrait of two girls seated in living room) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, whose title is simply "Untitled (portrait of two girls seated in living room)," was created by Lucian and Mary Brown. Editor: The immediate sense is one of domesticity, even with this reversed tonality. It’s intimate. Curator: Yes, and it’s important to recognize the image was produced by two photographers, husband and wife, likely capturing a moment of their children in their home. Editor: The patterning is striking. We see the floral curtains, the patterned rug, and the plaid dress of one of the girls. This repetition gives a sense of abundance and comfort. Curator: We can certainly read the patterns as symbolic of the material wealth and social status afforded to a white, middle-class family. Editor: I see the patterns also as symbolic of ritual and repetition, of the everyday lived experiences that create a home. Curator: It’s a complex layering. Thanks for sharing that perspective. Editor: My pleasure. It all seems so immediate, as if we might know something about what makes this home, home.