Untitled (studio portrait of woman in hat and fur coat) c. 1940

Here we have an undated studio portrait by Paul Gittings, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The most striking motif in this photograph is the fur coat. From ancient tribal rituals to the robes of emperors, fur has long been associated with power, wealth, and status. Consider the opulence of medieval monarchs adorned in ermine, or the tribal leaders draped in animal hides, each reflecting a complex interplay of cultural significance. Yet, beyond mere status, fur touches something primal within us. It harkens back to a time when our survival depended on our connection to the animal world. This image evokes a deep-seated sense of comfort, security, and perhaps even a touch of untamed wildness. These symbols are not fixed; they evolve, adapt, and resurface, each time echoing our collective memories, and reshaping our understanding of ourselves and the world.