A Venetian Well Possibly 1894 - 1934

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, A Venetian Well, some time in the late 19th or early 20th century. Look at how he's captured this courtyard scene. It's all about the light, right? You can almost feel the sun beating down on the stone, and the cool shadows offering a bit of relief. I wonder what Stieglitz was thinking when he framed this shot. Did he see a story unfolding here? The woman at the well, the figure in the window—are they connected? Think about the surface of things. The rough texture of the stone, worn smooth by time and use. The way the light catches on the water in the bucket. There is a real sense of place, a sense of history. Painters are always looking at photographs, and photographers are always looking at paintings. We’re all in conversation, borrowing and stealing from each other. It’s a beautiful, messy process of exchange. Stieglitz reminds us to slow down, to really see the world around us, and to find the beauty in the everyday.