Horses, New York Possibly 1911 - 1934

Editor: Alfred Stieglitz's "Horses, New York," taken sometime between 1911 and 1934, is a gelatin silver print depicting three horses in what appears to be a bustling, snowy city scene. What I find most striking is the way the smoke almost obscures the background figures, lending a sense of mystery and barely-seen presence. What do you see in this piece, looking at it through the lens of iconography? Curator: I see the power of the obscured image. The steam, smoke, and snow function as a veil, almost like a visual palimpsest. We have the dominant symbol of the horses, representing labor and the industrial age, contrasted against a backdrop that hints at human figures toiling in harsh conditions. It reminds me of depictions of Hades, barely seen. Stieglitz uses this ambiguity to evoke the overwhelming forces that shaped early 20th-century urban life. The obscured figures in the background suggests their dehumanization amid industrial progress. Don’t you agree? Editor: I do. The way the horses are so sharply in focus, almost heroic, compared to the hazy, almost ghostly figures, definitely emphasizes that disparity. What do you think that contrast tells us about how Stieglitz perceived this era? Curator: Stieglitz might be exploring the idea of "progress" as a double-edged sword. The horses, symbols of brute strength, are sharply rendered, commanding our attention. Meanwhile, the humans become ghosts in their own city, hinting at the psychological and emotional costs of relentless industrial expansion. It serves as a cultural memory of the individual fading away in that historical period. Editor: This has definitely provided a richer understanding of this photograph than I had originally anticipated. Thanks! Curator: It was my pleasure. Considering those elements adds layers of historical and social depth to Stieglitz’s evocative image.