Untitled (girl in long dress with sun hat over arm standing on shag prop) c. 1940

This photographic negative by Paul Gittings captures a girl in a long dress, holding a sun hat. The image is made through a complex chemical process. Light captured through the camera lens interacts with a coated glass plate, preserving a fleeting moment in a durable form. Photography’s emergence in the 19th century was tied to industrialization. It relies on mass-produced materials: glass, silver salts, and a range of synthetic chemicals. In this image, we see a cultural emphasis on clothing and accessories. The girl's sun hat and dress represent societal values of elegance, but also the material culture of fashion. How the dress drapes, its texture, the subtle highlights – these details are made visible by the photographic process. By extension, consider the labor that went into producing them; the textile mills, the garment workers, and the distribution networks that brought these items to the sitter. Looking at this image, it's important to think about all the hands that contributed to its creation, not only the photographer, but also all who produced the materials that made the image possible.