Untitled (woman seated in chair with little girl in lap, framed pictures and window in background) after 1940

This photograph, titled "Untitled," was created by Paul Gittings, though we don't have an exact date for it. It is a gelatin silver print, a process that rose to prominence in the late 19th century due to its sharp detail and tonal range. The gelatin silver process involves coating paper with light-sensitive silver halide crystals. The negative is placed on the paper and exposed to light, causing a chemical reaction that creates a latent image. This is then developed, fixed, and washed to create the final print. In this photograph, the tonal range of the gelatin silver print captures the textures of the subjects' clothing. The reflective quality of the gelatin silver print emphasizes the soft glow on the faces of the mother and child, enhancing the intimate mood of the composition. By focusing on the way the photograph was made, we can understand how the artist chose this specific material to convey the image’s narrative. Looking at a piece through the lens of materiality allows us to see beyond the surface.