Untitled (photograph of "Nazism": shirtless man with looming shadow) c. 1940

This untitled photograph by Paul Gittings presents a shirtless man with a looming shadow, and it raises questions about the politics of imagery. The stark contrast and composition evoke early 20th-century German Expressionism, a movement that often reflected social anxieties and political turmoil. In this light, the stark shadow could be interpreted as the shadow of authority, or perhaps the dark side of human nature itself. The physical vulnerability of the shirtless man enhances this feeling of oppression. Gittings, in his artistic choices, might be commenting on the seductive power of authoritarian regimes. To truly understand this work, one might explore the historical context of its creation, examining photographic practices of the time, and the broader artistic responses to political ideologies. Remember, art's meaning is always contingent on the social and institutional forces that shape both its creation and reception.