Untitled (portrait of girl in pigtail braids) c. 1955

Paul Gittings created this untitled portrait of a girl in pigtail braids as a black and white print. The inverse tonality immediately strikes us, creating a ghostly presence. The composition centers on the girl’s face, framed by her braided hair, drawing our eyes to her piercing gaze. The soft gradations of light and shadow define her features with clarity. This reversal invites a deconstruction of traditional portraiture. By inverting the tonal values, Gittings challenges our perception of realism. The photograph acts as a signifier, prompting us to question what is visible versus what is hidden, highlighting how photography can both capture and distort reality. The photographic negative can be seen as a commentary on the nature of representation itself. It reminds us that images are not merely reflections of reality, but are constructed through the interplay of light, shadow, and perspective. This challenges us to look beyond the surface and question the very foundations of how we see.