Mrs. Stieffel 1921

This is Alfred Stieglitz’s photograph of Mrs. Stieffel, we don’t know exactly when it was made, but he was active in the late 19th and early 20th century. It’s a gorgeous print in warm sepia tones. Look at the way Stieglitz allows the light to fall across Mrs. Stieffel’s face, etching the lines of age and experience. Her expression is so knowing, wise and kind. She’s caught in a moment of contemplation, her finger resting on her chin, as if interrupted from her knitting. And look at the details – the delicate lace of her shawl, the glint of her spectacles, and the watch on her wrist which seems so modern. The textures are amazing, aren’t they? From the soft wool she’s knitting, to her patterned dress. Stieglitz coaxes a real sense of presence from his sitter. He reminds me of another photographer I admire, Judith Joy Ross, who made similar portraits of children that have the same depth of humanity. Ultimately, this photograph leaves you pondering the passage of time, and the beauty of aging.