Soul of the Blasted Pine 1909

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the contrast between the softness of the figure and the rough, almost brutal texture of the tree. It's quite striking. Editor: It is. What we're looking at is Anne Brigman's "Soul of the Blasted Pine," a gelatin silver print from 1909. Brigman was a key figure in the Pictorialist movement and a champion of female artistic expression. This photograph beautifully encapsulates many of her key themes. Curator: Pictorialism aimed to elevate photography to the level of art through manipulation of the image, creating a painterly effect. And that manipulation is so apparent in the hazy sky and soft focus around the edges. But it’s more than just aesthetics, isn’t it? Editor: Absolutely. Brigman was very intentional in challenging social norms. Her work consistently features the female nude in nature, reclaiming a sense of freedom and connection with the natural world, and the image feels decidedly feminist for its time. Curator: Indeed. I find myself focusing on the placement of the figure. Perched atop the blasted pine, she becomes part of the landscape, but she is dominating, as well, in that position. Her upward reach—is that supplication, defiance, or simply a primal urge? Editor: Perhaps all three. The title suggests an exploration of the soul—of the tree, perhaps, but certainly of the woman and, broadly, womankind. By setting the nude female form amongst a wild landscape, Brigman suggests that woman's role isn't in the parlor but within nature. Also, it is important to mention how landscapes in this time had connotations with the development of national parks and the back-to-nature movement, highlighting how those public spaces, which were predominantly led and controlled by white men, are now here occupied by the feminine. Curator: So, in some sense, we're observing Brigman inserting the female figure into the grand narratives of nature and the American West, challenging traditional power dynamics through photographic means? Editor: Precisely. "Soul of the Blasted Pine" speaks volumes about the artistic, social, and political climate of the early 20th century, presenting a bold statement about female identity and the relationship between women and nature. Curator: Looking at this image again, its raw simplicity is incredibly powerful. It certainly provides ample material for further investigation regarding Brigman's place within both photographic history and the history of women in art.