Georgia O'Keeffe c. 1918

Alfred Stieglitz captured this photograph of Georgia O’Keeffe as part of a larger series that began around 1917. Stieglitz’s photographs of O’Keeffe are more than mere portraits; they are visual constructions of her identity, reflecting the complex dynamics of their personal and professional relationship. Through his lens, O’Keeffe was presented in a way that catered to early 20th-century notions of female beauty and artistic muse. The images also reveal tensions around gender and artistic representation. While the photographs brought O'Keeffe into the public eye, they also risked defining her solely through Stieglitz’s gaze. In this photograph, O'Keeffe's repose might evoke vulnerability, yet her steady gaze suggests self-awareness. Considering that O’Keeffe was also a celebrated artist, the photograph asks us to reflect on how women artists have historically been seen, and how they negotiate the line between being the subject and the creator.