Georgia O'Keeffe 1920

This portrait of Georgia O’Keeffe was made by Alfred Stieglitz using gelatin silver print. Though not as materially elaborate as other processes, it was the dominant photographic process of the twentieth century. In gelatin silver printing, a gelatin emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halides is applied to a paper or film base. After exposure to light and chemical processing, a negative image is formed. The way Stieglitz coaxes gradations of tone from this process suggests both his mastery of darkroom technique, and a more intimate, time-intensive engagement with the medium than we might associate with mass production. Photography in its early days was considered a craft. Stieglitz aimed to elevate photography to the level of fine art, emphasizing aesthetic value and emotional expression, thus mirroring O’Keeffe’s own project of elevating humble subject matter to high art through painting. When we consider the making of this artwork, we can better appreciate Stieglitz’s artistry and the cultural context in which photography was seeking recognition as a legitimate art form.