Untitled (little girl in dress in front of four others seated on sofa) c. 1955

This silver gelatin print, showing a little girl standing in front of a group of seated figures, was made by Paul Gittings at an unknown date. Gittings was a society photographer, famous for his portraits of prominent figures. This work is less formal, however, and potentially reveals more about the culture of American portraiture. The composition draws on established visual codes of domestic life, with an emphasis on the family unit. The little girl at the front is presented as innocent, drawing our attention to the social rituals that define American middle-class life. As a historian of art, I’m interested in how this image creates meaning through its formal elements, such as composition and light. But I’d also want to know more about Gittings’ career and the institutions that shaped his work. Archival research, along with careful attention to the visual details, can help us to understand the social and cultural context in which this photograph was made.