Untitled (photograph of Gittings photo: "Hostage") c. 1970

Paul Gittings made this photograph in the United States; we don’t have a date for it. The woman in the picture is dressed in a white robe, sitting on the floor with her hands tied above her head by a chain. Her pose is reminiscent of early photographs of enslaved peoples, which were often used to portray them as helpless and vulnerable. This image raises questions about power, control, and how it can be used to manipulate and oppress others. This image may reflect on the social structures of its own time. It critiques the institutions of art by questioning who has the power to create and control images. In researching Gittings, we might ask what his intentions were in creating this image, and what messages he was trying to convey. We might ask, was he challenging these ideas? Or reinforcing them? Understanding the social and institutional context of art helps us understand its meaning.