Untitled (woman sitting on couch, smoking) c. 1945

Robert Burian’s photograph shows a woman sitting on a couch, smoking. With its emphasis on domesticity and leisure, this image raises questions about the representation of women in mid-20th century America. The woman’s posture and the cigarette in her hand create an aura of sophistication, but they also invite us to ask how social and cultural expectations shaped the roles available to women at the time. Was she a homemaker, or a professional? Was she a mother? The image is open to interpretation. Such images were common in popular magazines and advertisements, but it’s important to consider the ways in which artistic representations can reinforce or challenge societal norms. We might also ask if Burian was conscious of the potential political meanings of his image and whether he was commenting on women's changing roles. The historian can research sources like popular magazines, advertisements, and sociological studies, to gain a deeper understanding of the photograph.