Untitled (advertisement for electric beater) c. 1950

This is Robert Burian's "Untitled (advertisement for electric beater)." Although the date is unknown, we can speculate that it was made mid-century. Burian's photograph of an electric beater invites us to think about the cultural and societal shifts that followed the Second World War. As technologies advanced, women were increasingly expected to find fulfillment in domestic roles, while also entering the workforce. The pristine kitchen appliance symbolizes the idealized image of domesticity that was marketed to women. It speaks to the complex push and pull between empowerment and confinement. Consider how the beater's sleek design contrasts with the labor it's meant to alleviate. It's an object of desire and a symbol of the changing roles of women in society. How might this image have resonated with women in the post-war era?