Untitled (woman in long fur coat, earrings, necklace and long dress seated in studio) after 1940

This portrait was made by Paul Gittings, using photographic methods of his time, which gives us a view into the sitters world. In the monochrome image, different tones create an illusion of texture that isn't really there. The woman's fur coat, a deep, velvety black, contrasts with the lighter hues of her dress and the pearly necklace draped around her neck. It's a study in contrasts, light and dark, opulent textures against smooth surfaces. The way the light catches the edges of her earrings, the delicate shadows under her cheekbones - you sense a kind of performance. Photography has often played with that performance, and of course, so does painting. Think of Man Ray, and his use of light and shadow to create a sense of mystery around his subjects. These artists remind us that art is an ongoing conversation, always challenging our assumptions about representation.