The Maple Tree c. 1926

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, “The Maple Tree,” using gelatin silver print. It's a small picture, but it feels big, like a whole world in miniature. Look at the way the light falls, how it’s captured in these shades of gray. Stieglitz wasn’t just documenting a tree; he was exploring the feeling of being in nature. The texture is incredible, you can almost feel the roughness of the bark and the softness of the leaves. It’s like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment, the way light changes, the way the wind moves through the trees. The lines of the tree point upwards, like the tree is reaching to the sky. It reminds me a little bit of Cezanne, he also saw something monumental in humble scenes. Ultimately, Stieglitz reminds us that art isn't about perfection, it’s about process, and about finding something meaningful in the world around us.