Untitled (portrait of older and younger man) c. 1940

This black and white photograph, "Untitled (portrait of older and younger man)" by Paul Gittings, seems to be a study in contrasts and inversions. The negative image reveals a stark dynamic; the subjects radiate a ghostly luminescence. I imagine Gittings, in the darkroom, carefully coaxing this image into being. It's kind of like painting. The artist makes decisions, the image shifts and emerges through trial, error, and intuition. I sympathize with Gittings, trying to capture the essence of these two figures, perhaps father and son. The older man sits formally in his suit, while the younger man stands, casually posed. The inverted tones give the image an eerie, dreamlike quality. The stark whites and deep blacks create an emotional resonance, amplifying the sense of mystery. Think of other photographers who play with light and shadow to create mood, like Diane Arbus. Artists are in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas across time. This photograph embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations, making it a space of creative reflection.