Untitled (two boys in matching overalls) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, attributed to Lucian and Mary Brown, presents two boys in matching overalls. Editor: There's something eerie about this negative image, a stark contrast that makes the boys seem almost spectral. Curator: Indeed. Consider the context: the identical clothing speaks to societal expectations around conformity, particularly of children in the early to mid-20th century. Editor: And the visible emulsion numbers on the edge? It's a raw reminder of the chemical process involved, the transformation of light and silver into this lasting image. Curator: Precisely. We can also look at how class and labor intersect here. The overalls, while common, suggest a connection to a working-class aesthetic, a manufactured style made available to the masses. Editor: It’s an artifact, really, this small rectangle. Holding so many layers – childhood, industry, representation. Curator: It certainly offers much to consider about how we construct and perceive identity through material culture. Editor: A glimpse into the past, literally inverted.