Untitled (young woman standing by fireplace in parlor) after 1940

This untitled photograph, now at the Harvard Art Museums, was created by Paul Gittings. Within this carefully arranged parlor, we are presented with a young woman standing in quiet contemplation. Gittings was known for his portraiture of the elite, often capturing them in staged domestic settings that reinforced their social standing. This work reflects a desire to depict women not only as subjects of beauty but also as figures of poise and self-possession within their own environments. Consider the gendered expectations of the time, where women were often confined to the domestic sphere, yet simultaneously were expected to embody elegance and grace. The parlor, a space traditionally associated with women, becomes a stage upon which identity and societal role are performed. The portrait hanging over the mantle becomes a mirror reflecting the subject’s status. Gittings' photograph invites reflection on the intricate interplay between identity, environment, and societal expectation.