Untitled (young man holding cigarette seated next to globe) c. 1940

This gelatin silver print by Paul Gittings captures a young man seated next to a globe. The photographic process itself is key here. Light-sensitive chemicals coated on paper, carefully exposed and developed, render this scene in shades of gray. But it’s more than just a record. The very act of photography in this period – the deliberate posing, the careful control of light, and the labor of developing the print – elevated the subject. The photograph, as a mass-reproducible medium, democratized portraiture, yet the technical skill involved still lent an aura of artistry. Notice how the subject holds a cigarette, a symbol of leisure and perhaps rebellion, juxtaposed with the globe, hinting at worldly aspirations. The photograph invites us to consider the aspirations and social context of the sitter. It’s a compelling reminder of how materials and making intertwine with the social fabric, blurring the lines between everyday life and art.