Untitled (older man seated at desk, woman standing behind him in front of bookshelves) after 1940

This untitled photograph by Paul Gittings captures a seated older man with a woman standing behind him in front of bookshelves. The image is structured by a series of vertical lines. Notice how the stark lines of the curtains on either side of the subjects frame the softer, curved forms of the figures. The man, seated at the desk, is the primary focal point, his dark suit contrasting with the lighter tones of the window behind him. This use of contrast draws attention to the power dynamic implied by his seated position, compared to the woman standing behind him. The background, filled with books, hints at a world of knowledge, yet the closed spines prevent us from accessing that knowledge directly. The photograph uses formal elements to subtly explore themes of power, domesticity, and the construction of identity within a space. The composition invites viewers to consider the implicit narratives embedded in the visual arrangement of subjects and objects.