Untitled (baby seated on blankets, left hand open, right hand in fist) after 1940

Paul Gittings captured this photograph of a baby, printed on gelatin silver, its date currently unknown. The image presents an interesting intersection of private and public life. On the one hand, it's a seemingly intimate portrait of a child, likely intended for personal or familial use. On the other hand, its presence in a museum collection suggests a broader cultural significance. This raises questions about the role of photography in shaping perceptions of childhood and family, and how these images circulate within different social spheres. To understand this image better, one could research the history of portrait photography and its relationship to social class, gender, and family structure. Studies of visual culture and childhood studies could help to contextualize its meaning further. By examining the social and institutional context in which this photograph was created and circulated, we can gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance.