Georgia O'Keeffe 1919 - 1920

This black and white photograph captures Georgia O'Keeffe’s likeness with her face in profile and hands upraised. I wonder what it was like for her to be captured by Stieglitz’s camera, to sit still and to feel his gaze. As an artist, maybe she was wondering what he was trying to do, what he saw in her, and how he would translate her presence into an image. It’s interesting to think of the push and pull of being seen and known by another artist. The contrast between light and shadow is striking. The artist's face is smoothly lit, while the background is shrouded in darkness. Those hands reaching upwards feel like a prayer. It makes me think about all the artists, past and present, who are reaching for something beyond themselves, seeking inspiration, trying to communicate something through their work.