Untitled (little girl playing miniature piano) c. 1955

This photograph of a little girl playing a miniature piano was made by Paul Gittings, though we don't know exactly when. The image presents us with a child, likely from a well-to-do family, engaged in a common activity, early musical training. The piano itself is an interesting cultural object. It represents not only leisure and artistic cultivation, but also the social expectations placed upon children from privileged backgrounds, especially girls. In many Western societies, proficiency in music, particularly the piano, was seen as a marker of refinement and social status. Considering the socio-economic context, this image speaks to the values and aspirations of a particular segment of society. Further research into the photographer's body of work, the history of music education, and the material culture of childhood in different eras would help us better understand the cultural meanings embedded in this seemingly simple photograph.