Untitled (girl taking dolls from shelf) c. 1950

Curator: This is a black and white photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, currently titled "Untitled (girl taking dolls from shelf)" and held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's dreamlike, almost ghostly. The inverted tones give a strange weight to the image. The collection of dolls suggests a study of childhood but there is something unsettling about it. Curator: Considering the period it was likely produced, it captures the cultural importance of childhood innocence and domesticity, typical of the era's visual language. Editor: But what are the dolls made of? Are they mass-produced, reflecting new consumerism, or handmade, representing traditional craft? The material signifies their place in the child's world and the broader economy. Curator: Exactly. This image acts as a mirror reflecting the social values placed on children and the objects surrounding their upbringing. Editor: So, is it a celebration or a critique? The materiality and arrangement of these objects really open up different interpretations. Curator: Perhaps it's both. An observation. Editor: Yes, there's something to be said for the photograph capturing the innocence as well as the material constraints of that era.