Dorothy Norman 1930

This is Alfred Stieglitz’s portrait of Dorothy Norman. The way the light falls, almost caresses, her face, it’s like he’s painting with light, isn’t it? The photograph's surface has a soft, almost velvety texture, drawing you into the intimacy of the moment. It's all shades of grey, but look closer; notice the almost imperceptible gradations, from the deepest shadows under her hat to the highlights on her cheekbone. I am really taken by her lips, that small curved line, it is so elegant, so chic, that you almost feel like you know her. It’s like a whisper, a secret shared between the photographer and his subject. Stieglitz had an eye for talent, I wonder if he saw Norman as an artist in her own right, not just a muse? Like his portraits of Georgia O’Keeffe, this feels so modern, so stripped down, it’s about seeing, feeling, being present in the moment. It's an invitation to slow down, to really look, and maybe, just maybe, to see something new in the familiar.