Untitled (two children on stairs with toys) c. 1950

This is an untitled black-and-white photograph by Paul Gittings depicting two children on a staircase, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The image evokes a sense of upper-class domesticity, hinting at a world of privilege and leisure. The toys scattered around the children, the well-appointed staircase, and the children’s clothing create a visual code representing middle-class life, likely somewhere in the US. Without a confirmed date, it’s difficult to tie it to a specific socio-political moment. However, the composition implies a family portrait, perhaps commissioned by the parents. Understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production requires delving into the history of portraiture and the role of photography in constructing and reinforcing social status. Further research into Gittings's other works and the archives of the Harvard Art Museums might illuminate this photograph's intended audience and its place within the broader landscape of American social portraiture.