Untitled (portrait of a woman in large hat and gloves) c. 1950

Paul Gittings' undated photograph captures a woman in a large hat and gloves. It is an image that evokes a sense of studied elegance. The photograph is a window into a world of high society and formal portraiture, an industry that has always been shaped by the tastes and norms of its time. Gittings was an American photographer known for society portraits. During the mid-twentieth century, photography became increasingly accessible, but the elite still sought out specialized studios to document their status. Consider how this image operates as a social marker. The woman's attire, the careful lighting, and the very act of commissioning such a portrait speak volumes about her position within a particular social stratum. To fully understand a piece like this, we might turn to sources from the period: fashion magazines, social registers, and even the business records of studios like Gittings, to trace the circulation and consumption of such images within the cultural landscape.