Untitled (baby in bathtub) c. 1950

Editor: Here we have an untitled photograph, "baby in bathtub," by Lucian and Mary Brown. The reversed tones create an ethereal, almost ghostly feel. What can you tell me about the materiality and process at play here? Curator: Considering the reversed tones, let's consider the darkroom practices involved. The negative itself becomes a crucial artifact. How did the Browns manipulate the materials at hand? What choices did they make regarding exposure, development, and printing? What kind of labor was necessary? Editor: That's interesting! It makes me think about the artistic decisions involved in what feels like a simple snapshot. Thanks! Curator: Precisely, and those decisions illuminate a fascinating intersection of artistic intent and material reality.