Untitled (baby in bath) c. 1950

Curator: Here we have an Untitled photograph by Lucian and Mary Brown, depicting a baby in a bath. It is a silver gelatin print, approximately 10 by 13 centimeters. Editor: The high contrast gives it a stark, almost unsettling quality, doesn't it? The baby looks like it's emerging from the depths. Curator: Precisely, and the use of gelatin silver printing allows for a wide tonal range, really emphasizing the textures of the metal bath frame and the baby's skin. Editor: I'm struck by the ordinary setting – a humble bathroom made momentarily extraordinary through light and shadow. It's like a Vermeer, but with a baby. Curator: Agreed. The materials suggest a certain period and the means of production highlight the labor involved in both childcare and photographic processes. Editor: Ultimately, it’s an intimate portrayal made universal. Makes me wonder what the baby felt, staring back at the lens. Curator: I appreciate how you bring the perspective of the subject into our conversation. Editor: And I value how you frame the image within its material context. Thank you.