1923 Portrait of Guenevere Gould Aboard Ship with Children

This photograph captures Guenevere Sinclair Gould standing aboard a ship on December 13, 1923, with three children by her side. Wearing a stylish outfit of the early 1920s, she exudes the grace common to affluent families of the time. The setting—a ship—hints at a leisure excursion likely taken by well-to-do families during a period when transatlantic travel was becoming more accessible to the upper classes.

Guenevere Gould was part of a social circle that exemplified the American elite of the early 20th century. The 1920s, often referred to as the Roaring Twenties, was a decade marked by significant social change and cultural development in the United States. Families like the Goulds took advantage of the new luxury of travel, symbolizing the prosperity of that era. The image not only portrays their lifestyle but also offers a glimpse into family dynamics during a time when leisure activities began to take center stage in American life. The presence of the children in this portrait may reflect prevailing views on family and parenting during the 1920s, when middle- and upper-class families were often portrayed as tightly-knit units enjoying the fruits of their labor.