Untitled (boy at desk in bedroom, guns on wall) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, titled "Untitled (boy at desk in bedroom, guns on wall)," is quite striking. There's a young boy in what appears to be an attic bedroom, surrounded by toys and with guns displayed on the wall. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: It's a powerful commentary on American boyhood and the normalization of violence, isn’t it? Consider the date is unknown, this could be almost anytime in the 20th century. What does it say about our culture if this image could be representative of multiple decades? Editor: That's a chilling thought. So, the photograph is not just a portrait of a boy, but a reflection of societal values? Curator: Precisely. The presence of guns as décor, the boy playing, it all speaks to a complex relationship with power, security, and even fear, that we project onto our children. Do you see any other telling details? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way before. I will definitely look at photographs differently now.