Untitled (studio portrait of two men in suits, both with one hand in pocket) c. 1940

This photographic print, made by Paul Gittings, shows two men in suits, likely in the mid-20th century. The sharp monochrome image, created through a meticulous process of exposure and development, captures not just likeness but also social bearing. Consider the material reality of photography at this time. It was a chemical process as much as an artistic one. The mastery required to coax an image from a negative was considerable. In a world before digital imaging, the photographer’s darkroom work – the selection of paper, the timing of the exposure, the choice of developer – was crucial. These men are dressed in the uniform of business. Their suits, likely made of wool, speak to a global textile industry and the complex supply chains of the fashion system. It is also worth thinking about the labor involved: the tailoring, the pressing, the upkeep required to maintain such an appearance. Thinking about this piece through materials and processes reveals the convergence of artistry, labor, and social identity. It invites us to see photography not just as a representational medium, but as a crafted object imbued with cultural meaning.