Georgia O'Keeffe Possibly 1918 - 1937

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe, probably in his New York studio with a large format camera; it's a meeting of minds and a deep collaboration of process. There’s something about the tonal range, how Stieglitz coaxes such depth from shades of grey and brown, that reminds me of a charcoal drawing. The textures are so physical: the rough bark of the tree, the wool of the sweater, and then O’Keeffe’s skin, smoothed and softened in contrast. Notice the way her hands rest against the tree. The angle of her fingers, the slight tension in her wrists - it's as if she’s drawing energy directly from the tree, becoming part of it. Her direct gaze is arresting. She looks up and out of the frame, away from Stieglitz. Seeing this image makes me think of other artists whose work is rooted in the personal, like Francesca Woodman or Diane Arbus. It's a potent image of a woman both vulnerable and strong, and like all great art, it leaves you with more questions than answers.