Miss S.R. Possibly 1904 - 1934

Alfred Stieglitz made this small photograph, entitled Miss S.R., sometime in the early twentieth century. It's incredible to imagine how a photographer coaxes a portrait out of light and chemicals! I wonder about this "Miss S.R." What was she thinking at this moment, sitting for the camera? What were her hopes, her fears? The soft focus evokes a certain moodiness, a dreamlike quality, kind of like looking back on your youth. Photography, like painting, is all about light, shadow, and texture. Look at how Stieglitz uses light to define the contours of her face and clothing, and how he captures the soft texture of her coat. It’s interesting to think how Stieglitz influenced a generation of painters, and in turn, he was surely inspired by them. Artists are always in conversation with each other, pushing boundaries and inspiring new ways of seeing. It's less about fixed meanings and more about embracing ambiguity.