On the Dykes Possibly 1894 - 1934

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, On the Dykes, with a camera and gelatin silver prints. Gelatin silver! I love that – it’s so material, so physical. What interests me is the way Stieglitz seems to have relished the subtle gradations of light and shadow. Look at the way the water reflects the sky, blurring the line between the two. It's like he's not just showing us a scene, but also the very act of seeing itself. The dark sail boat and the ripples in the water create a sense of movement. Everything is soft, slightly out of focus, which adds to the dreamy atmosphere. This reminds me of the tonalist painters of the time, like James McNeill Whistler, who were also interested in capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric effects. Ultimately, this piece isn't about capturing a specific place or object, but about capturing a mood, a feeling. And that's what makes it so compelling.