Concepts of identity are complex and changing, and in this book Katherine Hoffman explores and explains portraits and images of individuals and families from ancient Egypt to the present - more than two-thirds of the book covers the twentieth century. She include images from painting, sculpture, photography, film, TV, and other media; there are 75 illustrations integrated with the text.

The book provides perspectives on the identity of family and self through an analysis of historical and contemporary portraits and images - a mirror of society and culture, their attitudes and values.

The introduction discusses families and portraits; Part I deals with the ancient and medieval worlds and Renaissance through the nineteenth century; and Part II, the main part of the book, covers the period from 1900 to 1945, as well as the late forties and fifties, the sixties, seventies, eighties, and early nineties. Also included are an epilogue on identities, images, and stories; notes and bibliography sections; and index.