A Nook in Pallanza Possibly 1887 - 1896

This evocative photograph was taken by Alfred Stieglitz, using a process that was relatively new at the time: gelatin silver printing. This method allowed for a broad range of tones, which you can see in the subtle gradations of light and shadow across the stone surfaces. The image's power comes from its material honesty. Stieglitz doesn't try to disguise the photographic process or idealize his subject. Instead, the rough texture of the stone walls, the simple archway, and the glimpse of daily life within are all presented with clarity. This approach mirrors the unvarnished truth found in craft traditions, where the maker's hand and the material's inherent qualities are celebrated rather than concealed. Photographs like this one challenge the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. They remind us that seeing is itself a form of making, one that can reveal the beauty and significance in the everyday.