Untitled (photograph of girl playing piano) by Paul Gittings

Untitled (photograph of girl playing piano) c. 1940

0:00
0:00

Dimensions: image: 6 x 6 cm (2 3/8 x 2 3/8 in.)

Copyright: CC0 1.0

Paul Gittings made this small, untitled photograph of a girl playing the piano sometime in the twentieth century. It's interesting to me as a painting because it seems to describe a scene with light and shade, as though the photograph is capturing the image in time, like a painter might. The photo is entirely rendered in shades of gray, and the photographic surface is highly textured which gives it a material presence. Look at the way the light falls on the piano keys, or how it illuminates the girl's dress. The soft focus of the image creates a sense of intimacy. The girl, small against the large piano, is hunched over as she practices, creating a sense of quiet reflection. The way Gittings manipulates light and shadow reminds me of Whistler’s tonalist paintings. Both artists play with mood and atmosphere, using a limited palette to evoke a particular emotional state. Art often echoes other art, building an extended conversation across generations and mediums.

Show more

Comments

No comments

Be the first to comment and join the conversation on the ultimate creative platform.