Untitled (baby in bassinet) c. 1940

Paul Gittings created this undated photograph, “Untitled (baby in bassinet).” The negative image captures an intimate, yet somewhat eerie scene of a baby in a bassinet. The choice to invert the colors transforms the familiar tenderness associated with images of infants into something more unsettling, challenging conventional representations of motherhood and innocence. The baby, often seen as a symbol of purity and potential, is cast in an uncanny light. Considered from a feminist perspective, the image plays with the cultural expectations of women as caregivers, hinting at the darker, unspoken aspects of maternal experience. The use of black and white strips away any sentimentality, highlighting the stark realities and anxieties that can accompany motherhood. The photograph’s emotional impact lies in its ability to evoke both a sense of vulnerability and a sense of unease, inviting viewers to confront their own preconceptions about family, identity, and representation.