Untitled (two girls in matching dresses seated on floral sofa) c. 1940

Here, Paul Gittings captures two girls in matching dresses seated on a floral sofa. The floral motif, prominent in the sofa's design, is a symbol deeply rooted in cultural memory. From ancient Roman frescoes, where flowers represented spring and renewal, to Renaissance paintings filled with symbolic blooms, these motifs are not merely decorative. Consider Botticelli's "Primavera," a symphony of floral abundance celebrating fertility and growth, echoing the latent potential of the girls in this image. Yet, here, inverted in monochromatic negative, Gittings offers a variation, prompting us to consider the cyclical nature of symbols. Floral patterns also evoke a sense of transience, reminiscent of vanitas paintings that remind us of the fleeting nature of beauty and life. The contrasting imagery of the floral design taps into the subconscious, subtly hinting at the complex interplay between innocence and awareness, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.