Untitled (portrait of older man with short white beard in suit) after 1940

This is a portrait photograph of an older man with a white beard, made by Paul Gittings. Consider the beard, a symbol as old as time. Think of the ancient philosophers, their beards signifying wisdom and experience. This man's beard, meticulously groomed, speaks of a certain stature, perhaps a scholar, a leader, someone accustomed to respect. Yet, it also hints at vulnerability, the white hairs a stark reminder of mortality. The suit, too, tells a tale. From the Renaissance onward, formal attire has denoted power and authority. But here, in the subdued tones of the photograph, it feels almost like a costume, a shield against the ravages of time. It appears often, this visual shorthand for knowledge and authority—a motif that resurfaces in various forms across eras, from religious iconography to contemporary media. In the end, this portrait becomes more than a likeness; it's a study in the symbols we use to navigate the human drama, a perpetual dance between aspiration and acceptance.