Georgia O'Keeffe 1921

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of Georgia O’Keeffe using a platinum print. The sepia tone and soft focus create a dreamy, ethereal quality. Look at the way the light caresses her face, how the textures of her hat and coat are rendered with such delicate precision. Stieglitz has captured not just her likeness, but something of her inner spirit. The way the light falls on her brow, the subtle shadows around her eyes. It’s a masterful study in tone, and also an intimate portrayal of a creative soul. There’s something very modern about this portrait, a kind of directness and simplicity that reminds me of the photographs of artists like Robert Mapplethorpe. Both artists sought to capture something essential about their subjects. They share a formal understanding of the nature of light, tone and shadow, exploring the ambiguous boundary between representation and abstraction. Ultimately it is the role of the artist to create an interpretive encounter, rather than a fixed meaning.