Untitled (man, woman, and three children outside) c. 1950

Editor: This is an untitled photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, portraying a family outdoors. The negative is striking. What strikes you about this image? Curator: The physical making of this image is very interesting. It is more than just the recording of a scene, it is an artifact of a specific time period and production process. The choices of film, camera, and development techniques all play a role in creating the image we see. Editor: So, you're saying the materials matter? Curator: Absolutely! We should consider the labor involved in creating this image, from capturing the scene to developing the negative. Even the social context of family portraiture and its consumption is important. What story do you think the family and photographer want to tell? Editor: That’s a great perspective to have. I didn't think of it that way!