Untitled (mother kneeling by little girl in chair cutting first birthday cake) c. 1955

Paul Gittings created this black and white photograph of a mother and child, sometime in the mid-twentieth century. The scene depicts a mother kneeling beside her daughter, who is sitting in a high chair, ready to cut her first birthday cake. This image speaks to the cultural emphasis on family and domesticity prevalent in the post-war era, especially in America. It captures a seemingly intimate moment, yet its staged quality suggests a deliberate construction of idealised family life. The photograph’s formal composition, with the mother and child carefully arranged, raises questions about the performative nature of such domestic scenes. Was it commissioned for a family album or perhaps even for publicity? To understand its full context, one might research the history of family photography, consumer culture, and gender roles during this period. By exploring such avenues, we can appreciate how the photograph reflects and shapes our understanding of social values.