Ellen Koeniger, Lake George 1916

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Ellen Koeniger, Lake George, using gelatin silver. The image is a study in light and shadow, playing across the contours of the body like a painter might use brushstrokes. The photograph's materiality is key to its emotional impact. The tones are rich and varied, from the deep blacks of the bathing suit to the soft grays of the water and sky. You can almost feel the coolness of the water and the warmth of the sun on skin. Notice the way the water droplets cling to Ellen's back, like tiny jewels. This detail brings a sense of immediacy and intimacy to the scene. Stieglitz's approach reminds me of Edward Weston's nudes. Like Weston, he finds beauty in the human form, celebrating its curves and textures through careful attention to light and shadow. But where Weston's work is often cool and detached, Stieglitz's has a warmth and vulnerability that makes it feel deeply personal. It is a reminder that art, in all its forms, is ultimately about connection.