Untitled (portrait of woman seen from behind with baby sleeping on her shoulder) after 1940

This untitled photograph, by Paul Gittings, captures a woman from behind, a baby sleeping peacefully on her shoulder. While the photograph is stripped of identifying markers, it invites us to reflect on the universal experience of motherhood. The woman’s gaze is soft, her posture protective. The black and white medium lends a timeless quality, reminding us that this intimate tableau exists outside of a specific time. The image operates within a historical context where women's identities were, and often still are, intimately tied to their roles as mothers. It prompts questions about the representation of women, and the cultural expectations of maternal love and sacrifice. This photograph creates a space for viewers to consider the labor and emotional depth inherent in motherhood, while also inviting a dialogue about the diverse ways motherhood is experienced and represented.