The Last Load Possibly 1890 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph on paper, using a gelatin silver printing process. This was a relatively new technology in the late 19th and early 20th century, but rapidly becoming photography’s dominant mode. Here, we see laborers harvesting hay in a mountainous landscape. The image is striking for its composition, contrasting the massive, almost sculptural form of the hay pile with the figures of the workers. Look closely: it’s a collaborative, physical effort. One man is perched high, arranging the load, while others use pitchforks to feed more hay onto the cart. Even the horse contributes to the process, standing patiently. The gelatin silver print gives the image a soft, tonal range, emphasizing textures, from the rough-hewn hay to the rugged mountains in the background. Stieglitz was less interested in photography as pure documentation, and more interested in its potential to evoke mood, and pictorial effect. The choice of this subject matter directs our attention to the dignity of labor, while also aestheticizing it. It elevates the everyday into art.