Untitled (baby in bassinet beside window with large bow at top) after 1940

This photograph of a baby in a bassinet was made by Paul Gittings. It’s a scene of domesticity, but one that speaks to the place of the child within social structures. The large bow and frilly netting convey wealth and suggest that this child is being raised in a privileged environment. The window brings the outside world into the frame and reminds us of the limited role women had in mid-century America, expected to stay at home and care for their children. The photographer, Paul Gittings, was known for portraiture of prominent individuals; we might ask what it means to photograph a baby in the same style and with the same approach as those figures. To understand this work better, we might research the history of portrait photography and the visual codes it employs. We can also examine the history of childhood and motherhood in the United States. It's through this kind of research that we can understand the complex social and cultural forces that shape the meaning of art.