Untitled (young child in cloth diaper stands with stuffed animals next to vase of flowers) after 1940

This photograph by Paul Gittings presents a young child amidst symbols of purity and innocence. The lilies, a vase, and the stuffed animals are the primary visual elements, each carrying its own weighty significance. The lilies, symbols of purity and innocence, have roots in ancient mythology, often associated with goddesses and fertility. These floral symbols appear in Renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary. Here, their presence casts a halo of innocence around the child. The stuffed animals echo this sentiment, representing comfort and security. Through time, symbols like the lilies have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different contexts. This photograph, therefore, is not just a snapshot of a child but a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. It’s a modern echo of timeless themes, a cyclical return to the wellsprings of human emotion and memory.