Florence Cane 1922

Alfred Stieglitz made this black and white photograph, Florence Cane, at an unknown date using gelatin silver print on paper. In this portrait, the way Stieglitz works with light and shadow is incredible. It is like the chiaroscuro of a painting. The light isn’t just revealing Florence, it is sculpting her face and giving her a kind of depth that feels psychological as well as physical. Notice the way the light catches her eyes. And then there are these dark pools beneath, which bring an emotional depth to the image. It is this dance between light and dark, revelation and concealment, that makes the portrait so compelling. Stieglitz was a master printer, and he’s doing all kinds of darkroom magic here, pushing the contrasts, burning and dodging to bring out the details he wants. His work reminds me of Gerhard Richter's portraits in paint. Both artists show a fascination with the human face and the endless possibilities of representation. It's this kind of conversation across media and generations that keeps art alive and kicking.