Untitled (boy and girl in living room) c. 1950

Curator: This gelatin silver print, presently held at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Untitled (boy and girl in living room)" and is attributed to Lucian and Mary Brown. Editor: There's something undeniably eerie about the inverted tones here, it almost gives the impression of ghosts in a domestic setting. Curator: Indeed. The negative image throws conventions of representation into sharp relief. Children in a home—such a ubiquitous subject—but here, made strange. Editor: The placement of the staircase in the background is striking. Stairs often represent transitions, change... Perhaps the children are on the cusp of something? Curator: Or, read more plainly, the architectural details suggest the social status of the family. The home itself performs a role here, signaling respectability and aspirations. Editor: That's a great point. Either way, it feels far from straightforward. Curator: Photography, like history, is never truly objective. This piece reminds us how choices of representation reflect broader cultural narratives. Editor: The reversed tones certainly add a layer, provoking deeper reflection.