Untitled (Davies family Christmas card; five images of family with text) 1964

Curator: This intriguing Davies family Christmas card, created by Lucian and Mary Brown, offers a poignant glimpse into mid-century African American life. The photographic collage presents a series of family portraits. Editor: There's an immediate stillness to it, almost a quiet formality in the composition. The inverted tones enhance this sense of historical distance. Curator: The composition and juxtaposition of images can be interpreted as a deliberate construction of identity. Each photograph seems carefully chosen to portray a specific facet of their family life and social standing. Editor: I see how each photograph is almost its own distinct study in light and shadow, bound together. The tonal range is carefully orchestrated; however, one is left wondering what could have been expressed by the artist(s) if rendered in color. Curator: I agree. The Brown’s choices were intentional, speaking to a need to present themselves as educated, dignified, and part of the Black elite, effectively challenging dominant stereotypes. Editor: Ultimately, it's the combination of these structured fragments that makes this image so compelling. Curator: Indeed. I'm left pondering the stories behind these collected moments and the complexities of representation within the context of American history.