Untitled (woman leaning over baby from back of bassinet) c. 1940

This photograph of a woman leaning over a baby from the back of a bassinet was made by Paul Gittings. The soft light here creates a mood, a nostalgic world of memory. It’s interesting to see this scene rendered in monochrome, because it reveals so much about tone and form. The white of the photograph makes every surface gleam: the woman’s hair, the baby’s face, the frills of the bassinet, all seem to radiate light. This bright luminescence gives the image an almost otherworldly quality. Look closely at the woman’s arm as she reaches towards the baby. It is caught between light and shadow, and this gives a sense of depth. This photograph reminds me of the intimate portraits by artists like Gertrude Käsebier. In a similar way, Paul Gittings uses light and shadow to explore themes of motherhood and domesticity. The photograph embraces ambiguity, leaving space for our own interpretations.