Untitled (portrait of two women in formal dresses and floral hats standing on lawn in front of trees) c. 1940

This photographic print of two women in formal dresses and floral hats was made by Paul Gittings. Although undated, the composition and style hint at a moment in the mid-20th century, perhaps the 1940s or 50s. The photograph offers a window into the social conventions of its time. The subjects' attire – their elegant dresses and elaborate hats – speaks to a particular class and social expectation. These women appear to be part of a social stratum where appearances and manners hold considerable weight. How might such conventions reinforce existing hierarchies? We might also ask how institutions, like photography studios themselves, played a role in shaping and perpetuating those standards of beauty and social identity. The work of historians involves digging into archives, fashion history, and social studies. It is only then that we can start to unpack the complex relationship between art, identity, and social power.