Untitled (portrait of two men in suits, seated) c. 1940

This photographic negative by Paul Gittings at Harvard Art Museums captures a portrait of two men in suits, seated. Looking at this image, I can imagine the photographer in a studio, setting up lights and posing his subjects. It’s all about patience and careful composition, right? I bet Gittings thinks, “How can I capture the essence of these guys?” He probably adjusted his approach based on their personalities or profession. The negative itself is like a painting, a surface to be explored and manipulated, with tonal range, light, and shadow. Imagine the artist trying to balance the composition, adjusting his vision of these guys and trying to capture their essence. Like a painter, Gittings likely considered how each element contributes to the overall impact. It’s all connected, right? These men, the setting, the light, and the moment. The challenge for the artist is how to find meaning in it all. Like all artists, he leaves traces of his thinking and feeling through the work.