Untitled (portrait of little girl holding doll on lap) 1954

This untitled portrait of a little girl holding a doll, was captured by Paul Gittings using black and white photography. The inverted tones create a spectral presence. The composition is simple and direct, with the girl centered, her gaze slightly off to the side. This creates a sense of intimacy, yet also distance. Her posture, upright and formal, contrasts with the softness of her dress and the delicate features of the doll. It introduces a dialogue on the construction of identity and representation of innocence. The stark tonality invites us to consider the psychological dimensions of portraiture. The inverted blacks and whites destabilize our perception, challenging conventional notions of beauty and childhood. This unsettling effect prompts a deeper reflection on the underlying themes of representation, memory, and the uncanny.