Katharine Dudley 1922

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Katharine Dudley, on silver printing-out paper, sometime between the wars. What a moment he’s captured – those shoes, the velvet darkness, and just a little bit of skin! I love how he’s cropped it. It's almost like the shoes are figures in a landscape, resting after a long dance. The black and white tones are so rich, you can almost feel the texture of the velvet and the soft curve of the ankle. It’s a sensual photo, almost like a painting. You can imagine him setting up the shot, adjusting the light just so, waiting for the perfect moment. I wonder what Katharine Dudley thought of this image? Did she see it as a portrait? Or something more abstract? It's a reminder that artists are always looking, always finding beauty in the everyday, and transforming it into something new. We are always inspired by each other.