Untitled (portrait of man in suit holding cigarette with hand to chin) c. 1955

Paul Gittings created this untitled portrait of a man in a suit, holding a cigarette, with his hand to his chin using black and white film. The image, with its stark contrast and classic pose, evokes the advertising conventions of mid-twentieth-century America. The man’s suit, cigarette, and confident demeanor all contribute to an image of success and sophistication, a social ideal marketed through print and television. But there’s also a certain unease present in the starkness of the photographic negative. The social conditions that shape artistic production can be researched through magazines, newspapers, and company archives. These sources reveal the values and aspirations being promoted at the time. It’s a moment when the lines between art and commerce were intentionally blurred. Exploring such sources helps us understand the social and institutional contexts that give such works meaning.