Untitled (two girls in matching floral dresses seated at edge of sofa looking out glass door) after 1940

This photograph of two girls in matching floral dresses, likely taken mid-20th century by Paul Gittings, presents a fascinating intersection of social portraiture and material culture. The silver gelatin print, a classic medium for photography at the time, captures a scene staged with care: the girls seated on a patterned sofa, their matching dresses suggesting both affluence and a constructed ideal of childhood. The material choices – the fabric of the dresses, the ornate textile of the sofa, the bound books in the shelves behind – speak volumes about the sitters’ social status and the photographer’s eye for detail. Gittings, known for his society portraits, would have been acutely aware of how these material details contributed to the overall image. The photograph isn't just a record, but a carefully crafted object made with intention. Understanding these elements encourages us to consider the social and economic context in which it was made, and to see the photograph not only as a portrait, but as a document of material life.