Georgia O'Keeffe 1931

This is a photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz. He captured O'Keeffe in a window frame holding a bleached animal skull, through the lens of his large format camera. Stieglitz's mastery of the gelatin silver process is evident in the image's rich tonal range, and the crisp detail that captures the textures of wood, bone, and skin. This photographic process, which gained popularity in the late 19th century, allowed for the mass production of photographs, intertwining art with the burgeoning culture of consumerism. The photographic print itself is an object, one made through careful labor and a particular understanding of chemistry and light. In that sense, it mirrors the skull that O'Keeffe is holding, as she was interested in the labor of living, and of life reduced to bone. By focusing on these tangible aspects, we move beyond the image's surface, appreciating the depth of skill, the societal context, and the very hands that shaped this artwork.