Untitled (portrait of boy and girl in suit and dress holding hands) c. 1940

This photographic negative, "Untitled (portrait of boy and girl in suit and dress holding hands)," was made by Paul Gittings. Look at the light in this image, how it reverses our expectations and makes us see the world anew. I wonder what it was like for Gittings to capture these children. Were they fidgeting? Did they understand the gravity of the moment, the way their image would be frozen in time? It’s like they’re peering out from another world, a ghostly vision of childhood. The texture of the negative itself becomes part of the story, those imperfections and scratches telling tales of time and process. It reminds me that every artist is in dialogue with those who came before, building upon their innovations, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. There's an uncertainty to this portrait, but also an undeniable presence. It's a reminder that ambiguity can be a powerful tool, inviting us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the work.