Untitled (young man in herringbone suit leaning against mantle by round mirror) after 1940

Paul Gittings created this untitled photograph of a young man in a herringbone suit sometime in the 20th century. The photograph presents a study in contrasts, beginning with the stark difference in textures and tones. The herringbone suit, patterned and soft, opposes the sleek, dark surface of the mantle. The round mirror acts as a pivotal element, reflecting a partial view of the young man's head and creating an interplay between the real and the represented. Gittings masterfully uses the mirror to destabilize the conventional portrait. By bisecting the young man's head, Gittings evokes questions about identity and perception. Is the reflection a mere duplication, or does it suggest an alternate version of the self? The inclusion of the floral patterned curtains add another layer of complexity, disrupting the geometric severity with their organic shapes. This photograph functions as more than just a portrait; it is a semiotic structure in which each element communicates and complicates the reading of the others.