Shared Childhoods: The Origins of Portraying Children and Families and the Development of Sharenting

The portrayal of children and families is an age-old practice. This chapter traces the historical evolution of family and children’s portraiture, examining the cultural, social, and technological influences that have shaped this practice from ancient times to the contemporary phenomenon of sharenting. Historically, portraits honoured and immortalised significant individuals and emphasised the family as the cornerstone of society. In ancient times, family portraits highlighted lineage and societal values. During the Middle Ages, religious themes dominated, promoting ideals about family life. The Renaissance and Baroque periods saw more realistic and emotionally expressive family portraits. The advent of photography in the nineteenth century democratised family portraiture, making it accessible to the middle class and allowing for realistic and detailed depictions of family life. Finally, the advent of smartphones and social media revolutionised this practice. Since the digital era, parents have been able to document everyday family moments and share them instantaneously. This practice, known as sharenting, has become a way for parents to showcase their parenting skills, maintain social connections, and create a digital visual legacy for their children. It even became a profession and a way to make money, reflected in the practice of influencer sharenting on social media. However, today, sharenting and influencer sharenting also raise concerns about privacy, consent, and the short- and long-term impact on children. The chapter further explains the rationale of the book and the subsequent chapters.