Untitled (boy playing with blocks in front of fireplace) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, "Untitled (boy playing with blocks in front of fireplace)" by Lucian and Mary Brown, shows a child at play. The textures seem really important here; you can almost feel the roughness of the blocks. What stands out to you about this image? Curator: Considering the materials and how they're presented, I'm drawn to the social context of play and labor. Notice the handmade quality of the blocks, the simple construction of the bench. It suggests a very different relationship to materiality and production than our contemporary disposable culture, doesn't it? The image documents a specific moment of play, but it also implicitly speaks to the means of that play's creation and consumption. What does that suggest to you? Editor: That's fascinating! Thinking about the labor behind the toys definitely changes how I see the image. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: My pleasure! It's always enlightening to consider the hidden processes within art.