Give Me a Ring 

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom’s "Give Me a Ring" pictures a woman in a yellow robe, caught in the intimate act of a telephone call. Sundblom was a master of image-making during the rise of consumer culture in the mid-20th century. This painting reflects a moment when telephone use was becoming increasingly widespread, offering new modes of social connection, especially for women. The woman is depicted in a state of partial undress, suggesting a vulnerability, or perhaps the expectation of intimacy. Sundblom walks a tightrope between empowerment and objectification, as this painting invites viewers to consider the role of women as both active participants in a changing society, and as subjects of the male gaze within the advertising world. "Give Me a Ring" is a time capsule of mid-century ideals. It invites us to reflect on the evolving dynamics of gender, technology, and representation. It captures not just an image, but a moment of transition in American life.