John Marin 1921 - 1922

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of John Marin sometime in the early part of the 20th century. It’s a black and white image, and Marin is posed with his hand thoughtfully placed at his chin. I can really feel the weight of observation here, the gaze of Stieglitz trying to figure out what it means to be an artist – to make something new. I imagine him circling Marin like a painter circles a canvas, always wondering if he's got it right. There’s a sense of camaraderie, but also maybe a bit of competition? Like two artists sizing each other up, each pushing the other to see things in a new way. The soft light and focus of the portrait make it feel more intimate, more like an encounter between two people, than a formal document. The composition, tonality, and sense of depth that Stieglitz has achieved are all of a piece. Ultimately the image seems to be asking: What does it mean to see, to create, and to capture a moment in time? These are questions that artists have been grappling with forever, and that continue to inspire.