Untitled (mother crouching by little girl on first birthday, helping hold toy) c. 1955

This image, by Paul Gittings, shows a mother helping her daughter hold a toy on her first birthday. Although untitled, the work encapsulates many ideas around class, family, and social structures. The photograph looks like it may have been taken in America in the mid-20th century. While the artist is unknown, the scene is reminiscent of a family portrait or a picture taken for a newspaper announcement, and the image creates meaning through its references to domesticity and family values. These values were reinforced by social institutions at the time and were often seen as conservative. The mother and daughter are positioned together, which could be interpreted as representing the importance of family bonds and gender roles within the home. To understand this image better, one would need to research the history of family portraiture and photographic practices in mid-century America. This could provide insight into the social and cultural values that shaped the production and reception of such images.