Untitled (brother and sister seated on sofa under painting, legs crossed; girl has open book on lap) c. 1955

This undated photograph by Paul Gittings shows a brother and sister posed on a fancy sofa in front of a painting. The image seems designed to telegraph the family’s position in the social hierarchy. Gittings was a commercial photographer who specialized in portraits of wealthy and influential families. In this photograph, the siblings are surrounded by markers of wealth, from the ornate sofa to the painting displayed above them. The girl has an open book on her lap. Here, education is presented as a symbol of status. What are the social conditions that shape artistic production? Gittings’ photographs raise questions about the politics of imagery. Historians could research the Gittings archive, and compare it with the work of photographers working outside commercial studios, to learn more about the social role of photography. The meaning of art is contingent on social context.