Untitled (little girl seated on table next to first birthday cake, father leaning next to her) c. 1955

This photograph of a child’s first birthday, by Paul Gittings, captures a moment in time. Although undated, we can infer from the father’s attire, the interior decor, and the large cake that this was a special occasion that sought to capture a sense of post-war affluence. The image invites us to consider the complex and layered meanings of family photographs, especially those depicting childhood. What does it mean to commemorate a child's first year? What aspirations and hopes are projected onto this young life? Here, the father's figure looms protectively over his daughter, who is seated on a table next to her cake. Though this photograph seeks to immortalize a moment of joy, it also hints at the weight of expectation, the performance of parental love, and the subtle ways in which social and cultural norms shape our most intimate moments.