Emmy Obermeyer, Lake George Possibly 1893 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz captured Emmy Obermeyer at Lake George with his camera, employing the photogravure process. Steiglitz was part of a cultural shift occurring at the turn of the century that saw photography move away from the painterly style towards an appreciation of the pure qualities of the medium. Here, Steiglitz creates a candid shot, one that focuses on the everyday activities of women. The young woman is captured in a moment of adjusting her shoe. Tennis was becoming an increasingly popular sport for upper class women. It’s a moment of leisure, and the act of tying the shoe is an act of preparation and anticipation. In this context, it speaks to the changing roles of women at the time, as they pushed for greater social and physical freedoms. Steiglitz was interested in representing women as individuals with their own desires and pursuits. This work functions both as a depiction of a specific woman and as a signifier of broader changes in women's roles and identities during this period.