Untitled (little boy standing in front of desk) c. 1950

Editor: This interesting gelatin silver print, "Untitled (little boy standing in front of desk)" by Lucian and Mary Brown, has such a curious, ghostly feel because it's a negative. What symbols or meanings do you find in this image? Curator: The negative creates an unsettling feeling. The boy’s bright eyes, the desk filled with objects behind him--these reversed tones suggest an unveiling. This is a potent image of innocence juxtaposed with the unseen and perhaps unknown future. Editor: So the reversal isn't just technical, it's thematic? Curator: Precisely. The familiar turned strange forces us to consider what's hidden, or what we choose not to see about childhood and domestic life. Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't considered the unsettling aspect as a conscious choice. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! Looking closely reveals so much about how images speak to us.