Untitled (two children in high chairs) c. 1950

Curator: Here we have an intriguing snapshot, Untitled (two children in high chairs), by Lucian and Mary Brown. The print measures a modest 10.16 x 12.7 cm and resides in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s immediately striking – the stark tonality combined with the domestic scene creates such an interesting tension. Curator: Exactly. The lack of information surrounding the Brown’s practice invites speculation. Are they documenting a social trend or capturing private family moments? Editor: The children themselves command attention. Look at the details in their high chairs, the molded plastic contrasting with the plant stand. Curator: The mundane elevated. Perhaps the Browns were interested in democratizing the photographic medium, bringing it into the sphere of everyday life, blurring the lines between amateur and professional. Editor: I agree. It makes you consider the material conditions of their lives and how that shapes the narrative within the image. Curator: Indeed, seeing these babies in monochrome sparks a reflection on what we expect from family portraits. Editor: Yes, it goes beyond the image itself to the social role of parenting at the time.