Untitled (baby lying against fancy pillow, fist to chin) after 1940

This silver gelatin print of a baby was made by Paul Gittings sometime in the 20th century. Gittings was a commercial photographer who made portraits of wealthy and influential people, so this image is very likely one of the children of his clientele. The crisp quality of the print, combined with the baby's placement on an ornate pillow, are visual cues that point to affluence. Professional portraiture was a popular practice among the upper classes, as it was a way to document and display their social standing. Photography studios became institutions that reinforced social norms. The fact that this photo is now housed in an art museum raises interesting questions about the role of institutions in shaping our understanding of what constitutes art. To further understand this work, one could research the history of portrait photography, the biography of Paul Gittings, and the economic conditions of the time it was made.