Untitled (portrait of woman looking to left with hands clasped by neck) after 1940

This black and white photograph captures a woman in a moment of contemplation. Imagine Paul Gittings in the darkroom, coaxing this image into being through light and shadow. Her hands are clasped delicately by her neck, her gaze directed upwards and towards the left, lost in thought or perhaps towards some intangible dream. I wonder, what was she thinking at that moment? What story does that upward glance tell? There is something about the softness and vulnerability, yet also the strength, in her gesture that resonates. The contrast between the light on her face and the deep shadows behind her head invites us to ponder her inner world, and consider all the complexities of existence. Photography and painting have always been in dialogue, with each medium influencing the other’s way of seeing. It's a reminder that creativity is always an exchange, a conversation across time. And what's so beautiful is that, with every image, there are multiple stories waiting to be discovered.