Untitled (woman kneeling by bassinet, looking at camera, with arm around baby) after 1940

This black and white photograph of a woman and child was taken by Paul Gittings, but its date is unknown. Look at how the light rakes across the scene, the sharp delineation between the blinds and the soft curves of the dress. The woman’s expression is the focal point: a complex mix of tenderness and formality. The textures are amazing here – the smooth skin of the baby, the delicate lace of the dress, and the dark shadows in the background. Notice the composition; the repeated horizontal bands of the blinds, and the way the photographer uses the chiaroscuro to create mood. There's a tension between the spontaneity of the moment and the considered approach to lighting and staging. Look at the lower right of the frame. The folds of the dress give way to a sharp corner, a formal note within a family portrait. This photo reminds me of the work of Diane Arbus, who also explored the uncanny beauty of everyday life. Like Arbus, Gittings finds a way to make the familiar strange and fascinating.