Untitled (young man in fedora) after 1940

This gelatin silver print, "Untitled (young man in fedora)," was produced by Paul Gittings, who was known for commercial photography. The photograph's materiality is key to its impact. The gelatin silver process, dominant for much of the 20th century, allowed for a wide tonal range, which you can clearly see. Think about the labor involved: from the careful posing and lighting, to the darkroom processing. It was all highly skilled work, and also tied into the broader culture of image-making and celebrity. The fedora itself, a mass-produced object worn by the sitter, adds another layer of social context, suggesting an aspiration to a certain kind of stylishness. By understanding how such images were made, and the social forces that shaped them, we can fully appreciate their cultural significance, blurring the line between commercial and fine art.