Untitled (two children in crib) c. 1950

Curator: This is an untitled photograph, attributed to Lucian and Mary Brown, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It captures two children in a crib. Editor: Brrr, there's something so unsettling about this, almost otherworldly. Is it the stark contrast or the children's expressions? A touch ominous. Curator: The high contrast in this small black and white photograph enhances the subjects' otherworldliness. Images like this remind us of how childhood innocence has been a theme explored in art to reflect broader cultural anxieties. Editor: Yes, I see what you mean. The image appears to be a historical document, yet it elicits so much emotion from me. A snapshot frozen in time. Curator: Perhaps the Browns intended to present a window into domesticity, but it also captures the complicated experience of viewing children. Editor: It is more eerie than sweet. I wonder what stories the photographers wanted to tell. Curator: Indeed, it leaves much open to interpretation.