Untitled (little girl in bonnet with teddy bear in pram) c. 1955

This evocative photograph by Paul Gittings captures a young girl in a bonnet with a teddy bear in a pram. The bonnet, a symbol of innocence and protection, evokes similar coverings seen in Renaissance paintings of the Madonna. It calls to mind a sense of vulnerability and sheltered youth, a theme echoed across centuries of portraiture. The teddy bear, a more modern symbol of comfort, mirrors the role of religious icons, offering solace and companionship. Consider how this primal need for comfort resurfaces in the modern era through secular objects. The child's gaze, direct and unblinking, invites the viewer into a psychological space, a world of innocence tinged with the eerie quiet of the subconscious. The image taps into our collective memory of childhood, its joys, and its underlying anxieties. This seemingly simple portrait becomes a powerful commentary on the enduring human quest for solace and security.