Listening to the Crickets c. 1900

Alfred Stieglitz captured "Listening to the Crickets" with his camera in the United States. While seemingly a simple image of a dog, this photograph is heavily influenced by Stieglitz's involvement in the Photo-Secession movement, which advocated for photography as a fine art. Note the emphasis on composition and tonality, the framing of the image within a copyrighted mat, and the handcrafted look of the lettering. These visual codes mark Stieglitz's attempt to elevate photography from a purely documentary medium to one with artistic merit, capable of expressing personal vision. Stieglitz's gallery "291" in New York City played a crucial role in introducing modern European art to America, further shaping the reception of photography within the fine art world. To fully understand Stieglitz’s artistic project, we can look at period journals like "Camera Work" or exhibition catalogs from "291". By exploring the institutional and social contexts, we can better appreciate the complex interplay between art, commerce, and cultural values in the early 20th century.