Untitled (woman in flower pattered dress and fur stole seated by flowers) c. 1940

This photographic negative shows a seated woman in a patterned dress and fur stole, by Paul Gittings. The image, though reversed, presents a fascinating study in contrasts and textures. Notice how Gittings uses light and shadow to define shapes and create a sense of depth. The floral pattern of the dress and the soft texture of the fur stole are rendered with striking clarity. The drape of the cloth to the left of the woman offers long vertical lines which contrast with the curves and softer textures elsewhere. This interplay highlights the formal structure of the composition. The woman's pose, combined with the surrounding floral motifs, seems to challenge fixed ideas around femininity and representation. As such, the negative serves as a cultural document but also as a site for examining the visual codes that construct meaning.