Untitled (portrait of woman in formal dress, floral hat, and glasses seated under tree) c. 1940

This is an undated photographic image by Paul Gittings depicting a woman in formal dress, floral hat, and glasses seated under a tree. The inverted tones create a striking contrast, where light becomes shadow and vice versa, challenging our perception of form and space. The woman is centrally positioned, yet the texture of the tree trunk on the left vies for our attention, creating a visual tension. Gittings plays with depth through the arrangement of the foliage, abstracting the background almost to the point of pure pattern. The composition here is not merely representational, but an exploration of visual dynamics. The image prompts questions about how photography can manipulate reality, transforming familiar scenes into uncanny, thought-provoking arrangements. It destabilizes established meanings. The formal qualities invite us to reconsider photography's role in shaping our understanding of representation and visuality.