Georgia O'Keeffe c. 1918

Alfred Stieglitz captured this striking photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe, immortalizing her profile in a timeless image. The clean, sweeping lines of O'Keeffe's hair, pulled back into a bun, draw the eye along the curve of her neck, an echo of the classical Venus. Consider the profile itself. Throughout history, the profile portrait has been used to convey both power and vulnerability, from ancient Roman coins to Renaissance portraiture. Here, O'Keeffe's gaze is directed towards an unseen future, evoking a sense of anticipation. This deliberate composition channels the emotional intensity often found in Renaissance art, yet it also resonates with the cool, detached observation characteristic of modern photography. The image thus becomes a powerful vessel, carrying a rich cargo of cultural memory and psychological depth.