Untitled (girl and boy on couch) c. 1950

Editor: This is "Untitled (girl and boy on couch)" by Lucian and Mary Brown from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small photographic print. I find the image a bit haunting, and I'm curious: what visual symbols stand out to you? Curator: The children themselves are symbols, archetypes of innocence and potential. The couch and the framed artwork hanging on the wall behind them symbolize domesticity and aspiration. Do you think the photographic negative format impacts our interpretation? Editor: I hadn’t considered that! Maybe the reversed tones make it feel more like a memory, or a dream. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, it highlights the cultural memory embedded within the image, prompting reflection.