Untitled (man in suit seated on chair with baby in arms) c. 1940

Paul Gittings created this photograph of an unidentified man and child, but the date is unknown. The photograph raises interesting questions about the social expectations placed on men, particularly fathers. The man, dressed in a formal suit, sits in a well-appointed room. These visual cues suggest a certain level of social status and adherence to societal norms. Yet, he's tenderly holding a baby, an act that challenges traditional notions of masculinity that often exclude displays of care. Consider the time in which this photo was taken. Was it a period where men were increasingly encouraged to be involved in childcare? Or was this image intended to push against the status quo? By researching social norms, family structures, and gender roles of the time, we can better understand the photograph's intended message. Art, like this photograph, is always shaped by the social and institutional context in which it's made.