Untitled (man in chair holding puppet and baby) c. 1950

Editor: This photographic print, by Lucian and Mary Brown, is called "Untitled (man in chair holding puppet and baby)." The negative exposure gives it an eerie glow. What can you tell me about its social context? Curator: Well, look at the staged domesticity: the fireplace tools, the patterned wallpaper. How does this image challenge or reinforce ideas about family and privacy of the time? What kind of power dynamics do you see presented? Editor: It's interesting to consider how even seemingly candid moments are constructed, right? Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about. Curator: Indeed. Considering the 'who' and 'why' behind the lens helps us understand the message conveyed.