Untitled (girl in long dress reclining on shag prop) c. 1940

Paul Gittings made this photograph of a girl in a long dress, reclining on a shag prop. Given the subject, this image may resonate with traditional portraiture of children, often emphasizing innocence and beauty. Consider how the girl is posed, in a relaxed, almost languid manner, which challenges conventional representations of childhood. Her dress and the setting evoke a sense of nostalgia. Historically, children's portraits have been used to convey messages about family status, and societal values. Here, Gittings departs from these traditional roles, as the negative image introduces a sense of unease. This challenges the familiar and invites us to question conventional notions of childhood, identity, and representation. What does it mean to invert the traditional portrait? How does it make you feel?