Untitled (girl in white dress seated in wooden chair under tree) after 1940

Here, at the Harvard Art Museums, is an undated photograph by Paul Gittings. Immediately, the stark contrast between light and shadow draws you in. The young girl, dressed in white, is seated in a white wooden chair, which creates a geometric form against the organic shapes of the trees. The composition is carefully structured: the girl's face is positioned slightly off-center, inviting the viewer's eye to wander and explore the surrounding elements. The textures, from the smoothness of the chair to the dappled light filtering through the leaves, add a layer of complexity to the photograph's visual language. This photograph prompts a deeper consideration of representation and form. The high contrast between light and shadow emphasizes the formal qualities of shape and texture, challenging our notions of portraiture. This interplay between light and form questions the very essence of how we perceive and interpret images, demonstrating that visual art is not just about what we see, but how we see.