Georgia O'Keeffe 1919

This photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe was captured by Alfred Stieglitz. The image is a gelatin silver print, a process that involves coating paper with a light-sensitive emulsion and then exposing it to light through a negative. This was a popular process in the early 20th century because it allowed for the mass production of photographs, but Stieglitz elevated the medium to art through his careful attention to composition and lighting. The choice of gelatin silver, rather than a more 'artistic' process like platinum printing, speaks to Stieglitz's desire to bridge the gap between fine art and commercial production. Here, we see a close-up of O'Keeffe holding a small, abstract sculpture, possibly carved from plaster or wood. The soft, diffused light emphasizes the textures of both the sculpture and O'Keeffe's skin, highlighting their shared qualities of smoothness and warmth. Through the careful manipulation of light and shadow, Stieglitz transforms a relatively straightforward photographic process into a powerful artistic statement. He presents both O'Keeffe and the object she holds as modern icons.