Untitled (baby in bath, towels hanging behind) c. 1955

This photograph by Paul Gittings presents a stark, high-contrast image of a baby in a bath, with towels hanging behind. The composition is dominated by the geometric structure of the bath and the soft, organic form of the child. The inverted tones create an alienating effect, destabilizing the familiar, and compelling us to question our perception. The towels act as a backdrop, their patterns rendered abstract by the photographic process. The child, caught in a moment of joyous abandon, becomes an emblem of innocence framed by the rigid lines of domesticity. Through this interplay of form and tone, the photograph invites a semiotic reading. Everyday objects are transformed into signs that reflect broader cultural attitudes toward childhood, cleanliness, and representation. The photograph captures both the vulnerability and the resilience of the human spirit.