Untitled (woman seated on staircase with little girl and doll) c. 1940

Paul Gittings captured this photograph of a woman and child on a staircase, invoking potent symbols of ascent and familial bonds. The staircase, a motif stretching back to ancient mythologies, represents not just physical elevation but also spiritual and social progression. Think of Jacob's Ladder, or the hierarchical steps depicted in Renaissance allegories. Here, the woman's seated pose disrupts this ascent, suggesting a pause, a moment of reflection. The child clutching a doll introduces a layer of vulnerability and nascent identity. Dolls, from ancient fertility figures to modern playthings, serve as surrogates for the self, embodying hopes, fears, and the continuity of generations. This image carries an emotional weight, a subconscious echo of countless mother-and-child depictions throughout art history. The bond between them speaks of shared histories, echoing in the collective memory. These symbols are not static; they resonate across time, perpetually reborn in new contexts.