Untitled (woman in patterned dress holding hat and sunglasses seated at edge of fountain) c. 1940

Paul Gittings made this gelatin silver print of a woman seated at the edge of a fountain, but without a date, its time and place remain somewhat elusive. The image's meaning emerges from the visual codes associated with leisure and femininity. The woman's patterned dress, hat, and sunglasses suggest a context of wealth and social status, possibly alluding to a specific class. The fountain and garden setting enhance this idea, evoking a cultivated space removed from the world of labor and commerce. The act of pausing to pose implies a consciousness of self-presentation. Understanding the context of the image means looking at the history of photography, fashion, and leisure culture to discover what rules and institutions govern their practices. This would bring us closer to understanding the image's commentary on the social structures of its time. By researching period fashion magazines and local histories, we might reveal more about the world this image inhabits.