HITTY by Rachel Field 20 1929

Dorothy Lathrop's illustration for Rachel Field's "Hitty" in the 1920s, rendered in black and white, invites us to consider the social construction of childhood and the ways in which cultural values are transmitted through literature and visual imagery. This image, like many illustrations of its time, reflects a growing interest in children's literature as a distinct genre. What's interesting here is the emphasis on Hitty's attire, adorned with lace and bows, which speaks to the Victorian and Edwardian ideals of childhood innocence and gentility, ideals still very much in force in the early twentieth century. We see the fashion and the rigid expectations that children, particularly girls, were subject to. The use of illustration in children's books gained prominence as literacy rates increased and as a market for children's literature developed. These illustrations not only accompanied the text but also played a crucial role in shaping children's imaginations and reinforcing societal norms. To understand this work more fully, we might explore the history of children's literature, fashion trends of the era, and the social expectations placed upon children.