Untitled (girl having tea party with dolls) c. 1950

Editor: This photograph, titled "Untitled (girl having tea party with dolls)" by Lucian and Mary Brown, is quite small, about 4x5 inches. It pictures a child having tea with her dolls. The inverted tones create such a strange, nostalgic feel. What stands out to you? Curator: Consider the materials depicted: the manufactured dolls, the mass-produced tea set, the dollhouse—evidence of a certain postwar consumer culture. It raises questions about the labor involved in producing these goods and the societal values they represent. Does this commercial aspect alter your initial read of nostalgia? Editor: I hadn't considered the social implications of the toys themselves! That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It makes you wonder about production and its reach on play.