Untitled (woman leaning over baby lying back on pillow and bed) after 1940

Paul Gittings created this Untitled photograph of a woman and child sometime in the 20th century. The image captures a mother in a satin robe gazing at her baby, who lies on a pillow. During this period, traditional representations of motherhood often idealized women as solely caregivers, which frequently overlooked the complexities of a woman’s identity. The intimate setting, with the mother indoors and attentive, could be seen to reinforce those stereotypes. However, the mother's direct gaze and the baby's alert expression could also be viewed as an interaction of equals, imbuing the child with agency. The mother's gaze contains a depth of emotion; protection, hope, and perhaps, even a touch of melancholy. The photograph offers us a quiet moment to reflect on the layers of identity, societal expectations, and deeply personal bonds that converge in the act of motherhood.