Lake George c. 1926

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Lake George, using gelatin silver. You know, looking at this moody scene, I can almost feel the weight of those clouds. I imagine Stieglitz, setting up his camera, waiting for the right moment when the light and shadow would create this dramatic effect. The way the clouds seem to press down on the landscape. It reminds me of when I am in the studio and I am trying to get the layers of my paintings to capture a certain feeling – a certain atmospheric presence. Think about how Stieglitz worked with the tones of grey. He was able to evoke such a strong emotional response through his medium. It is similar to how painters like Gerhard Richter use greyscale in their paintings to create a sense of detachment and reflection. Artists are always responding to each other, even across different mediums and generations. The act of making art is a continuous dialogue. It’s not about fixed meanings but about exploring feelings, experiences, and possibilities.