Alfred Stieglitz 1907

Alvin Langdon Coburn made this portrait of Alfred Stieglitz using gelatin silver print, a process that was becoming widely adopted around the turn of the 20th century. Gelatin silver printing involved coating paper with light-sensitive silver halides suspended in gelatin. What's interesting is that it's a blend of industrial readiness and the hand of the artist in the darkroom. The production of gelatin silver paper relied on factory processes, but the photographer still had considerable control over the final image through exposure and development techniques. The tonal range and sharpness seen here result from Coburn's careful manipulation of the medium. He captures not just Stieglitz's likeness, but also a sense of his character, highlighting his sharp features and intense gaze. Coburn’s work, like much photography of the time, walks a line between art and industry. The image’s value emerges not just from its aesthetic qualities, but also from the labor, materials, and technologies that made it possible. It reminds us to consider all creative outputs as results of skilled work.