Equivalent 1925

Alfred Stieglitz created this photograph, "Equivalent," with a camera and film, capturing a scene of clouds. It’s all about how a simple scene, just clouds, can be a way to express deep feelings. Looking at the surface, you see these soft, gradated tones of gray, almost like ink washes. The clouds aren’t just clouds; they’re like brushstrokes, each with a different density and texture. See how some areas are almost white, and others are dense and dark? It gives a sense of depth. There is one dark, billowing cloud, and to me it's so solid and present. It seems to push forward out of the frame. Stieglitz was part of a movement that wanted photography to be seen as high art, just like painting. In that way, this image echoes Whistler's "Nocturnes," where the mood and atmosphere matter more than the subject. It’s a reminder that art isn’t always about clear answers but about endless questions.