Untitled (father in suit seated with son on edge of sofa) c. 1940

This image of a father and son was created by Paul Gittings using an unknown process at an unknown date. The photograph is like a drawing in charcoal almost. Look at how Gittings has played with light and shadow, turning them inside out as in a negative. See how the window frame in the background mimics the larger frame of the image itself. There’s a painting or print hung on the wall, and beyond that is a view to the outside. The way Gittings has used inverted tone adds an extra layer of abstraction that feels very modern. It reminds me of the way Alice Neel approached portraiture, always seeking to capture something deeper than just a likeness. Both artists invite us to consider the many layers of identity, memory, and perception that make us who we are.