Untitled (mother with son and daughter standing by piano) c. 1940

This photograph by Paul Gittings presents a family gathered beside a piano, with the son posed in a white suit, hands clasped, a gesture of formality and perhaps suppressed emotion. The piano is more than mere furniture; it's a symbol of cultural refinement, a stage for performances both musical and social. This motif echoes through art history—think of domestic scenes by artists like Degas, where the piano signifies bourgeois aspirations and the cultivation of artistic sensibilities. Yet, the subtle tension in the son's posture, his hands clasped as if to contain some hidden energy, brings to mind similar gestures in Renaissance portraits, where formality often masks deeper psychological complexities. Consider how such gestures recur and evolve, from displays of piety to assertions of social status. It’s as if our collective memory subtly shapes these recurring motifs, charging them with layers of meaning that resonate across centuries.