Untitled (baby crawling on carpet) c. 1950

Curator: This photograph, simply titled "Untitled (baby crawling on carpet)," was created by Lucian and Mary Brown. It is currently held at the Harvard Art Museums and captures a candid moment. The dimensions are roughly 4 by 5 inches. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The starkness is overwhelming. It feels like a surveillance image, observing a tiny figure navigating its world, unaware of the structures looming above. Curator: The high-angle perspective certainly lends that feeling. I see an image about exploration and nascent agency. The baby is making its way into the world, the composition is also interesting with the adult feet at the top. Editor: Absolutely. This isn't just about innocence; it’s about power dynamics, the ever-present gaze of authority, and how even in our earliest moments, we are performing under observation. The way the baby's face is lit is unsettling. Curator: It makes me consider my own childhood and who was watching. Editor: Indeed, who is always watching us, especially those who are most vulnerable? It’s a powerful commentary on visibility, vulnerability, and the ever-present power structures that shape our lives.