Ellen Koeniger, Lake George 1916

Alfred Stieglitz captured this gelatin silver print, titled "Ellen Koeniger, Lake George," sometime in the early 20th century. Stieglitz was instrumental in promoting photography as a fine art. He was a key figure in the Photo-Secession movement which challenged the established art world. This movement sought to elevate photography to the same level as painting and sculpture, critiquing the traditional hierarchies of the art institutions. The photograph, with its soft focus and intimate portrayal of Koeniger, reflects the artistic values of the Photo-Secession. Stieglitz captures Koeniger in a bathing suit, a subject that challenges social norms for the representation of women at the time. It invites questions about gender, representation, and the evolving role of women in early 20th-century American society. To fully understand this image, we can draw upon a range of resources – from exhibition catalogues to personal letters – to better understand the social and institutional context of Stieglitz's work.