Untitled (portrait of little girl in bonnet with dog) c. 1940

Paul Gittings made this undated photographic portrait of a little girl in a bonnet with a dog. Although the exact date of this photograph is unknown, similar portraits were a common way for middle- and upper-class families to document their children's growth in the United States during the twentieth century. The girl's formal dress, bonnet, and the presence of a pet dog point toward a family of some economic means. But the institutional history of photography also played a role. As cameras became more accessible, studios like Gittings' emerged, democratizing portraiture. This changed how families recorded their histories and how individuals presented themselves to the world. Understanding the public role of photography, its politics, and the social conditions that shaped its production, helps us appreciate this artwork as a window into cultural values and social norms. Resources such as census data, fashion history, and photographic studio records can further illuminate the context of this intriguing image.