Untitled (baby sitting up, looking to side) after 1940

This untitled photograph, by Paul Gittings, in the Harvard Art Museums, is all about the magic of light and shadow, and how those contrasts give shape to a tender, fleeting moment. The composition is striking; the baby emerges from a sea of black, the details of its face and clothing barely visible. It’s as if the photograph is less about capturing a likeness and more about the interplay of darkness and light, a process of revealing rather than representing. I'm drawn to the way the soft light caresses the baby's cheek, creating a delicate gradient from shadow to highlight. It reminds me of chiaroscuro painting, where dramatic contrasts evoke a sense of depth and emotion. The whole scene makes me think of the quiet, intimate portraits by artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who found beauty in the everyday moments of human life. This photograph celebrates that same spirit, reminding us that art can be found in the most unexpected places, if we only take the time to look.