Untitled (portrait of woman seated in riding clothes) c. 1929

This is a photographic portrait by Paul Gittings, made using a traditional darkroom process. The image we see here is a negative, capturing light and shadow in reverse. Consider the labor involved in creating this image. From posing the sitter and setting up the shot, to the precise work of developing the film. This was a skilled process that depended on craft, and the darkroom was a space of alchemical transformation. It required painstaking skill and care. The woman's attire, the riding clothes, suggest a certain social status and access to leisure. The image offers a glimpse into the life of someone who could afford both riding as a sport and a professional photographic portrait. By appreciating the material process of photography we begin to understand the image as more than just a representation, but as a record of labor, skill, and social context. The photographic negative stands as a testament to the art and craft involved in image-making.