Liberal and progressive: with the wife in her proper place

This is Franco Mercieca’s new campaign photograph, showing him with his wife and children. He’s currently pushing it on his Facebook page.

It is a very liberal and progressive composition, replete with 21st-century symbolism. The man, the protector, breadwinner and head of household, is out in front. The wife is in her proper place, several steps behind him. The children are even further back.

The big man stands alone out front, in full focus. But hang on – perhaps the photographer decided he had best not line them up side by side, as is normal in these situations, because it would look bad if the big man in charge is conspicuously the shortest of the bunch.