Untitled (boy holding rabbit) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, simply titled "Untitled (boy holding rabbit)", is credited to Lucian and Mary Brown. It's a modest-sized silver gelatin print, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has such a tender feeling, though the stark lighting lends it an air of melancholy. The boy's smile is lovely, but there's something about the reversed tones that speaks to deeper undercurrents. Curator: The Browns, about whom little is known, really captured something special in this image, didn't they? The rabbit seems so vulnerable in the boy’s hands, a symbol, perhaps, of innocence. Editor: Absolutely. And considering the historical context of the early to mid-20th century, the image also carries a subtle yet powerful commentary on care, childhood, and the complexities of Black identity in America. Curator: It’s the intimacy of the moment that resonates most with me. It’s a quiet scene, a boy and his rabbit, yet full of unvoiced emotion. Editor: A poignant reminder that even in the quietest moments, narratives of race, identity, and care intertwine.