Untitled (portrait of blond girl with bow in hair, arm over back of chair) after 1940

This Untitled photograph of a girl with a bow was created by Paul Gittings, though when it was made exactly is a mystery. The soft focus and subtle gradations of tone give it a painterly quality, as if Gittings was less interested in capturing a likeness than in evoking a mood. Look at how the light seems to emanate from the girl herself, particularly around her hair and face. The blacks are rich and deep, but never harsh. It’s a study in light and shadow, really, and the way those two elements dance together to create depth and form. The texture of the paper is palpable. You can almost feel the smoothness of the surface and the slight sheen of the print. It reminds me a little bit of Gertrude Käsebier, another photographer who wasn't afraid to embrace the soft and dreamy aspects of photography, using it to create images that feel more like paintings than snapshots. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what this image means to you, and what emotions it stirs within you. That's the beauty of art, isn't it?