Untitled 1955

This photograph was made by Garry Winogrand, probably in the United States, sometime in the 1950s or 60s. It shows a young man in a shirt and slacks holding a cup, with a young woman seated behind him. They are indoors, beneath some party streamers, in front of a patterned wallpaper. The image offers a glimpse into the social life of mid-century America, with the gender dynamics on display being particularly interesting. The man, with his drink and casual posture, seems detached. The woman sits stiffly and looks directly at the camera. The social life of this period, as reflected in photographs and popular culture, was often about the performance of gender roles. To understand a photograph like this, we can look at magazines and advertisements from the period. We might look at oral histories and social surveys. All these things provide a better picture of how people experienced the culture of their time. Ultimately, we interpret art through its relationship to its social and institutional context.