Untitled (baby leaning against fancy pillow, making face) after 1940

Paul Gittings made this photograph, “Untitled (baby leaning against fancy pillow, making face),” sometime in the 20th century. I love the contrast between the baby’s expression and the luxuriousness of the pillow they are propped up against. Look at the way the light falls on the folds of the fabric, creating a soft, almost painterly effect. The dark areas really give a sense of depth. It’s a funny thing about photographs, isn’t it? They seem so real, but they’re really just illusions. Like a painting, a photograph is a representation of something, not the thing itself. Even though it's a black and white image, I can imagine the colors of the pillow, the softness of the fabric, and the warmth of the baby's skin. It reminds me a bit of some of Gertrude Käsebier's photographs, particularly the way she used light and shadow to create a sense of intimacy. Ultimately, this photograph is about capturing a moment in time, a fleeting expression on a baby's face. But it’s also about the way we see, the way we create meaning from the world around us.