Georgia O'Keeffe 1920

Alfred Stieglitz made this portrait of Georgia O’Keeffe, probably with a large format camera, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The tonal range is gorgeous, with so much information in each shade of gray. Look at how Stieglitz captures the texture of O’Keeffe’s skin, the dark fabric of her dress, and the blurred landscape in the background. It’s about presence, you know? How do we come to know someone? This kind of portrait isn't just about capturing a likeness; it’s about revealing something deeper, more complex. The light on her face makes me think of those Renaissance portraits, like a Vermeer or something. Stieglitz made many portraits of O’Keeffe, and together they built an idea of the artist as muse. When I look at this piece, I think about how artists are constantly in conversation, borrowing and riffing off each other. Art isn’t about fixed meanings, it's about all the ways we can see.