Untitled (photograph of Gittings photo: "The Stubborn Tress") c. 1970

This photograph, by Paul Gittings, is an image of a Gittings photo called “The Stubborn Trees”. It looks like a vintage photo, sepia-toned, mounted on a larger card. The subject is a young woman, nude, caught in a moment of casual pose – maybe she’s about to brush her hair. What was Gittings thinking when he chose to photograph this image, which is already a photograph? The sepia tone gives it that classic, old-timey feel, which reminds me of Gertrude Käsebier’s portraits, dreamy and soft-focused. It makes you wonder about the layers of representation here – a photo of a photo, each with its own story. This is part of a conversation across time. The image feels quite intimate, but also a bit detached, distanced by the framing.