Ellen Koeniger, Lake George 1916

Editor: So, this gelatin-silver print, "Lake George" from 1916, by Alfred Stieglitz... it’s strikingly simple, yet so much more than a photo of someone in a bathing suit. There's almost a statuesque quality to the figure and a boldness with the choice of such a subject. How do you read it? Curator: For me, it's about so much more than meets the eye. It’s of course, aesthetically, a product of its time – very pictorialist, right? – the soft focus and the almost ethereal quality the black and white photography brings forth are hallmarks of that era, reminiscent of painting styles like Impressionism. But beyond the style, I wonder what Stieglitz wanted to convey through this image. There’s an underlying serenity and yet… do you sense also, perhaps, a quiet power? Editor: I definitely get a sense of power, in a strange, understated way. Like the woman is about to take flight, like a bird... The openness of the landscape behind her suggests possibility, expansion... Curator: Exactly! She’s poised. Stieglitz wasn't just pointing a camera, right? This isn't a casual snapshot. It’s a statement about the female form, and perhaps even freedom, or at least… liberation of expression, maybe? Don't you think it makes you ponder notions of body image too? Editor: It really does. Seeing this photo outside its historical context, you almost forget how revolutionary it was to portray the female figure like this. Curator: Absolutely. It really allows you to consider context and subtext, doesn’t it? Editor: It certainly does. It shows how important it is to always go beyond just the aesthetic impression of a piece, and remember about where it came from. Thanks!