Untitled (woman sitting on patio with two boys and little girl, all dressed in white) after 1940

Paul Gittings captured this photograph of a woman and three children, all dressed in white. This deliberate choice evokes a sense of purity and innocence, reminiscent of baptismal garments or the attire of classical deities. The shared colour unites them, creating a symbolic harmony that transcends mere visual appeal. The white garments appear throughout the history of art in depictions of holy figures and angels, suggesting an aspiration to an elevated spiritual or moral status, and the use of this colour also creates a familial association between the figures in the composition. This conscious choice carries a powerful emotional weight, hinting at shared hopes for a pure, promising future. Consider the echoes of these familial representations through the Renaissance interpretations of the Holy Family, and how the desire for purity, protection, and connection reverberates through generations.