Untitled (photograph of "Portentous Shadow": figure seated in hat with large shadow) c. 1940

This photograph by Paul Gittings features a seated figure, but it's the looming shadow that arrests our attention. The shadow, far larger than the figure itself, wears a hat and dominates the frame. The shadow, in its simplest form, is a motif of duality, representing the hidden or darker aspects of the self. Since ancient times, shadows have been linked with the soul and the spirit, appearing in myths and folklore as an omen of death, a symbol of the subconscious. Consider how the shadow transforms in literature, from Peter Pan's mischievous entity to the more ominous figure in gothic tales. Over time, its meaning morphs to reflect shifting cultural anxieties. Here, in Gittings's photograph, the shadow evokes a profound sense of foreboding. It taps into primal fears. The distortion of scale amplifies this emotional impact, leaving us to ponder the latent forces that shape our perceptions. The photographic portrayal of the double is an inquiry into the human psyche's depths.