From the Back-Window—291 1915

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print, From the Back-Window—291, sometime in his career. The tones are very close in value; the darks are soft and the lights seem to be glowing from within. It's like he’s building an atmosphere, a feeling, instead of just recording a view. The texture is smooth, almost velvety, and the way the light catches on the buildings in the distance gives them a dreamy quality. I love how he’s used the out-of-focus foliage in the foreground to create depth, almost like a curtain framing the scene. Look at the way the light flickers in the windows of the buildings; it's like a secret code, a glimpse into the lives of the people who live there. You can sense the urban hum, the quiet pulse of the city. This print reminds me a bit of the work of Edward Hopper, but with a softer edge. Both artists were interested in capturing the loneliness and beauty of urban life. Art is an ongoing conversation across time. What do you think Stieglitz is trying to tell us about the modern world in this image?