Georgia O'Keeffe—Hands and Breasts 1919

This is one of many photographs Alfred Stieglitz made of Georgia O'Keeffe. In this close-up of a woman's torso, hands gently press and mold the breasts. Looking at it, I imagine Stieglitz thinking about sculpture, about how a hand can shape clay. Here, the body is clay, and the light feels like a caress, soft and intimate. It's like he's asking, "How can photography capture not just what something looks like, but also what it feels like to touch?" You know, when I'm painting, I'm often thinking about touch. I love how oil paint can be so tactile, so thick and luscious. Here, in this photograph, Stieglitz is using light and shadow to create that same feeling of texture, of skin on skin. It's tender, like a whisper. These are the quiet moments of intimacy. All artists are in conversation, and I like to think that O'Keeffe and Stieglitz inspired each other to see the world in new ways.