Untitled (baby lying on blanket) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown of a baby on a blanket. It’s striking how casually intimate it feels. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I find it fascinating how the seemingly mundane act of photographing a baby on a blanket becomes significant through the lens of art history. Consider the socio-political implications of portraiture and who historically had the privilege of being depicted. Does this photograph subvert or reinforce those power structures? Editor: That's a great point. It feels like a very accessible, everyday scene. Curator: Exactly! How does its presence in a museum setting change our perception of its artistic value? Editor: I hadn't considered that. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure.