Untitled (man in suit seated in wingchair flanked by two sons) c. 1930s

Paul Gittings made this photograph, “Untitled (man in suit seated in wingchair flanked by two sons),” but we don’t know exactly when. The image is a photographic negative, and the tones are inverted. The original scene must have been brightly lit, because the dark areas are dense and solid. Look at the space between the father’s arm and body. The black line that describes his form is simple and efficient, economical, like a drawing. It is as though the artist has seen through all the visual information to reveal the form within. The image has some marks and blemishes, tiny dots, like raindrops, and the composition is oddly formal. It has some of the feel of a painting by Luc Tuymans, understated and creepy, yet full of light. Ultimately, I think art is about seeing the world in unexpected ways, and Gittings really helps us do that here.