Untitled (portrait of older woman seated by fireplace) c. 1940

This black and white photographic portrait of an older woman seated by a fireplace was made by Paul Gittings. At first glance, the image appears fractured, overlaid with a web-like pattern that disrupts the coherence of the scene. This aesthetic choice draws attention to the medium itself. The network of lines segments the image. The woman's figure, though central, is partially obscured. We can see how the composition destabilizes traditional portraiture. Rather than presenting a clear, singular view, it offers a fragmented perspective, challenging the viewer to piece together the subject's identity from the disrupted visual field. The layering of the web-like pattern functions semiotically, introducing an additional layer of meaning. Is it a barrier, a filter, or a lens through which we view the sitter? This challenges fixed meanings and engages with new ways of thinking about representation. The photograph becomes a site of ongoing interpretation.