Untitled (woman in large demi-circle hat with cigarette) c. 1940

This photograph, Untitled (woman in large demi-circle hat with cigarette) was created by Paul Gittings. At first glance, the high contrast and stark tonality evoke a sense of drama and tension. Gittings uses the play of light and shadow to emphasize the geometric forms within the composition. Notice how the large demi-circle hat acts as a framing device, drawing our attention to the woman's face. The diagonal line created by the cigarette adds dynamism and disrupts the symmetry of the composition. The contrast of the soft curves of her face against the sharp lines of the cigarette creates a visual tension. The photograph challenges conventional notions of portraiture. The negative image unsettles our expectations and invites us to question the relationship between representation and reality. The formal elements of line, shape, and tone are used to destabilize established meanings. The photograph becomes a site of ongoing interpretation.