Untitled (woman seated at edge of bassinet looking at baby on lap) c. 1940

This photograph by Paul Gittings pictures a woman seated at the edge of a bassinet looking at the baby on her lap. What was Gittings thinking, capturing this tender moment, turning it into something almost clinical? The negative creates an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, reversing the familiar tones of light and shadow. The ethereal glow transforms the mother and child into spectral figures, evoking both fragility and resilience. Her hands form a cradle, an intuitive gesture, and the baby stares up at her, locked in the symbiosis of mother and baby. Gittings's experiment with photographic representation resonates with other artists exploring the boundaries of abstraction and realism. The reversal of tones invites us to question our perceptions and consider the emotional and psychological dimensions of the subject. Artists engage in an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, where the act of painting embodies an expression that embraces ambiguity. Multiple interpretations reflect the subjective nature of seeing, reminding us that each encounter with art is unique and shaped by our own experiences and perspectives.