Equivalent 1931

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print, called Equivalent, sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. Stieglitz wasn’t using traditional artistic materials here, but rather adopting a technology that was rapidly changing the world: photography. The key to understanding Stieglitz’s work lies in the darkroom processes. The selection of the shot is important, of course, but the real transformation happened through Stieglitz’s skillful manipulation of light and chemicals. We can see here a range of tones that is quite remarkable, given the limited palette. The cloud formations take on a sculptural quality, almost as if he had modeled them with his own hands. The making of photographs was still quite a specialized field, with professional darkrooms and skilled technicians. Stieglitz was interested in photography's ability to express inner states of emotion. Understanding the labor, materials, and context of art is essential to appreciating the artistry and intention behind a work like this, challenging traditional notions of craft and fine art.