Untitled (large truck carrying "Farm House Frozen Pies") c. 1950

Robert Burian created this untitled photograph of a large truck carrying “Farm House Frozen Pies” using black and white film. The stark contrasts and the inversion of the image challenge our perceptions of everyday reality, offering a critical look at commercialism. The photograph captures a moment where industry intersects with notions of rural life, tradition, and comfort. The slogan "Farm House Frozen Pies" evokes an idealized vision of domesticity, yet the pies are mass-produced and transported by a large truck, revealing the complexities of modern food production and distribution. The truck itself, with its imposing size, emphasizes themes of scale, consumption, and the relationship between rural and urban spaces. By transforming the familiar into the surreal, Burian encourages us to reflect on the cultural values embedded in consumer goods. The scene evokes nostalgia while acknowledging the artificiality of the idyllic images they convey.