Untitled (portrait of grandparents and grandchildren in front of window) c. 1950

Curator: This is an untitled photograph, a portrait of grandparents and grandchildren in front of a window, by Lucian and Mary Brown. Editor: It’s a fascinating image. The tonal range immediately strikes me; the inverted contrast feels almost ghostly. Curator: Indeed. The materiality of the photographic process is quite evident here. The reversal suggests we're looking at an early negative, which gives us insight into the making of the photograph. Editor: The composition, despite the odd contrast, is quite formal. The arrangement of figures in relation to the window creates a layered effect. Curator: For me, it's about the social context. It speaks to family dynamics, class, and the everyday lives of these individuals. What were their roles, their occupations? Editor: I find the formal elements create an odd, haunting, yet compelling sense of time. Curator: Exactly, and understanding its production helps us understand the lives it depicts. Editor: Perhaps both form and production give it this haunting effect.