Lake George 1916 - 1917

Alfred Stieglitz captured this gelatin silver print of Lake George, a landscape charged with symbolic weight. The clouded sky looms large, its turbulent forms echoing the emotional intensity found in Romantic paintings. The dark, dense trees frame the composition, creating a sense of enclosure. This framing evokes the *horror pleni*, the artistic filling of the entire surface of a space or artwork with detail. We can find parallels in the Symbolist movement, where nature is laden with hidden meanings. The stark contrast between light and shadow amplifies the psychological drama, reflecting a search for the sublime in nature. Think of Caspar David Friedrich, and how he employed landscapes to convey profound emotional states. The image transcends mere representation, engaging viewers on a deeply subconscious level. This interplay of light and shadow creates a visual language that speaks to our collective memories. The image reminds us that symbols are never static. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.