Untitled (parents seated with two children in living room, plants and birdcage behind) c. 1940

This undated silver gelatin print shows a family in what seems to be their living room, made by Paul Gittings. Here, the setting acts as a stage on which a family presents itself as prosperous and stable. We have the parents, well-dressed and relaxed, the smiling children, the plants and the birdcage; all of these items speak of leisure and abundance. The blinds on the window perhaps suggest a certain degree of privacy, hinting at the family's elevated social status. This image may be read within the tradition of family portraiture, reflecting the conservative social values that have been so important to photography since its invention. In seeking to know more about it, one might consult publications on the history of family photography, or on the work of commercial studios. An image like this gains meaning when understood as part of the much broader history of representation and social class.