Untitled (little girl seated on rug) c. 1940

Paul Gittings created this untitled piece, "Little Girl Seated on Rug," which now resides in the Harvard Art Museums. The photograph is a study in contrasts and overlays. The image features a seated child, seemingly superimposed on a web-like structure. This network creates a visual tension, questioning what is foreground and what is background. The monochromatic palette and soft focus contribute to a dreamlike quality. The composition complicates traditional notions of portraiture, where the subject is typically clear and distinct. Here, the child is somewhat obscured. This artistic choice perhaps reflects broader concerns about representation and the instability of meaning. The semiotic elements at play disrupt any singular reading, engaging us in an open-ended dialogue about perception and reality. Ultimately, the photograph defies easy categorization. Its power lies in its ability to unsettle our expectations and invite contemplation on the nature of seeing.