Mike Wells, Motherhood, Photographic Postcard, 1977

National Trust, 575 Wandsworth Road, London (NT 1512431)

Photojournalism flourished as a distinctive form of photography during the mid-to-late 20th century. Images typically depicted strong narratives that could be used for immediate storytelling. Documentary-style pictures captured important historical or political events, together with celebrity culture and ordinary life. This candid image was taken by British photojournalist Mike Wells, and shows a woman bottle-feeding her baby.

1

Although the picture is intimate, this is a photographic postcard – mass-produced for its ability to instantly evoke a relatable experience of being a new mother.

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The picture is titled Motherhood and suggests a much wider context that goes beyond the confines of a single image. This is a hallmark of images used in photojournalism.

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The woman does not seem to be well known, showing the varied nature of this style of photography.