Untitled (photograph of woman in profile) c. 1940

This is an untitled photograph by Paul Gittings, printed on Kodak safety film. In this profile shot, the woman's image is rendered with stark contrast, the light catching the curve of her nose and the set of her jaw. The photographic process is key here. The image is built up through careful manipulation of light and shadow, a chemical reaction captured on film. Photography, from its inception, has been intertwined with social dynamics. Early portraiture was a privilege of the wealthy, a means of preserving their image for posterity. Gittings, a commercial photographer, likely made his living producing portraits for a broader clientele, democratizing the medium to some extent. Consider the labor involved: the photographer's skill in posing and lighting, the darkroom work, and the industrial production of the film itself. This piece reminds us that every image is a product of both artistic intention and wider social and economic forces. Understanding these forces allows us to appreciate the photograph, not just as a representation, but as an object embedded in a network of production and consumption.