Untitled (little girl changing into costume) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, whose title is "Untitled (little girl changing into costume)", comes to us from Lucian and Mary Brown. Editor: The high contrast immediately gives it an almost dreamlike, ethereal quality. Curator: Indeed. The choice to use this negative image emphasizes the texture of the fabrics, like the polka-dot skirt. Editor: And the presence of the shoebox in the background, along with the casual disarray of the clothing, implies a specific context—perhaps a childhood game or theatrical production being put on in the home. Curator: Precisely. Given the Brown's interest in vernacular photography, they were likely exploring the relationship between performance, dress, and the construction of identity through the lens of childhood play. Editor: It’s a captivating image. I'm struck by the interplay between the mundane and the magical, capturing the transformative power of play. Curator: I agree. The image prompts one to consider the many layers of meaning imbued in something as simple as a child’s costume.