Georgia O'Keeffe Drawing 1916 - 1917

Alfred Stieglitz created this drawing of Georgia O’Keeffe using charcoal on paper. The composition divides the image into distinct zones, creating a contrast between the upper and lower sections. Note how the top of the image is dominated by soft, diffused charcoal, suggesting a hazy, atmospheric space, while the bottom has sharply defined, undulating lines that evoke a sense of movement and texture. These lines create a rhythm that pulls the eye across the surface. The contrast between the atmospheric abstraction above and the rhythmic lines below creates a visual tension. Stieglitz explores the dynamic interplay between representation and abstraction, form and formlessness, in his work. The drawing prompts us to consider how these formal contrasts can evoke emotional and intellectual responses, challenging fixed meanings and offering new perceptions of space and representation. The charcoal on paper becomes a site for interpreting not only the image, but its aesthetic and cultural implications.