From the Back-Window—291—Building in Construction 1916

Alfred Stieglitz’s 1916 photo “From the Back-Window—291—Building in Construction” captures a view from his New York studio, where he ran Gallery 291. The image showcases the starkness of modern construction, with the skeletal frame of a new building contrasting against the older, completed structures. Stieglitz’s keen eye for detail, evident in the sharp lines and textures, reveals his appreciation for the beauty of the everyday, challenging traditional photographic aesthetics. The photograph is a powerful example of the “straight photography” movement, where unmanipulated images were celebrated for their inherent beauty and artistic merit.