Dorothy Norman 1930

This is a photograph of Dorothy Norman by Alfred Stieglitz. It's a small, intimate portrait, printed in silvery black and white. I imagine Stieglitz circling her, waiting for the right moment. What was it like being his subject? I think about the trust and vulnerability required, the way he coaxes her essence out of hiding. Look how the light falls across her face, the soft curve of her cheek, the serious gaze. Her face is a study in contrasts, both soft and strong. The hat casts a shadow, adding to the feeling of mystery. It's a quiet, contemplative image, a moment frozen in time. Stieglitz was a master of light and shadow, and he uses them here to create a sense of depth and intimacy. This photograph reminds me of the work of other portraitists like Nadar and Julia Margaret Cameron. Artists are always in conversation, riffing off each other's ideas. I think that photographs, like paintings, offer us different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world.