Untitled (portrait of young boy dressed as cowboy leaning against "horse") c. 1940

This photograph by Paul Gittings captures a young boy dressed as a cowboy, leaning against a toy horse. Gittings was known for his portrait photography, a field enabled and shaped by chemical processes and industrial manufacturing. Consider the materiality of the image. The photograph begins as a recorded impression on a treated surface, then becomes a tangible print through a complex series of chemical reactions. These processes, once the domain of specialized technicians, became increasingly accessible to amateur users. The photograph democratized image-making but also raised questions about authorship, labor, and access. Gittings' portrait freezes a moment in time, a potent illusion enabled by the advancements of mass production. It serves as a reminder that every image, regardless of its subject, is also an object, shaped by material conditions, technological developments, and wider social issues.