Crime, Children, Reform Schools: United States. New York. Freeville. George Junior Republic: George Junior Republic, Freeville, N.Y.: A small vender of apples. c. 1903

Editor: This photograph, attributed to Simon Lubin, is part of a series titled "Crime, Children, Reform Schools." It depicts a young boy with a horse. There's a poignancy to his smile. What does this image evoke in you? Curator: The direct gaze, the forced smile, and the horse—a symbol of freedom, juxtaposed against the reality of reform. It whispers of lost innocence and the heavy weight of expectations. What kind of life did he imagine for himself, standing there? Editor: That's a really moving point, and I never thought of the horse that way. This image leaves me with a lot to think about. Curator: Me too. It is a small window into a complicated past.