Untitled (portrait of girl in pigtail braids with one arm over back of upholstered chair) c. 1955

This photograph of a girl with pigtails, leaning on a chair, was made by Paul Gittings, though we don’t know when exactly. What’s so compelling is the negative state, where light and dark are reversed. It gives everything this eerie, ethereal quality. I imagine Gittings in the darkroom, watching the image emerge slowly in the developing tray. What was he thinking as this girl’s face began to appear? The contrast between the stark white highlights and the deep shadows creates a captivating dynamic, almost as if the image is about to dissolve before our eyes. I notice how the girl’s gaze is directed downward, introspective and thoughtful. It adds to the mystery. Photography is a process of capturing fleeting moments, transforming them into lasting images. It’s a bit like painting, isn't it? Both mediums freeze time. And somehow, through this photographic negative, Gittings gives us a glimpse into the inner world of a young girl, inviting us to ponder the nature of memory, representation, and perception.