Untitled (woman in tweed jacket holding hat and gloves leans against mantle) after 1940

Paul Gittings captured this photograph of an unknown woman with unknown date. The composition is simple, yet the photograph speaks volumes about its time. The woman’s tweed jacket, hat, and gloves are visual cues to the fashion and social norms of the era. This image evokes mid-century America. The wallpaper and mantelpiece suggest a domestic setting, hinting at the importance of home and family in post-war society. Gittings was a commercial photographer, suggesting this image was likely produced for a specific purpose, such as a magazine advertisement or a family portrait. The absence of a title may indicate the photograph was intended for a broader audience. As historians, we can explore the social and cultural contexts of this image through archives, fashion studies, and social histories. This will allow us to better understand the role of women and the values of the middle class during this period.