Ida and Georgia O'Keeffe [recto] 1924

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Ida and Georgia O'Keeffe, using gelatin silver print. Look at the surface of this image; you can almost feel the cool smoothness of the photographic paper. Stieglitz, ever the craftsman, coaxes a full range of tones from his materials. It’s as if he’s sculpting with light. Notice the way he captures the textures of their clothing – the soft knit of Ida’s sweater, the crisp collar of Georgia’s shirt. It’s this kind of attention to detail that elevates the photograph, inviting us to contemplate the two women and their stories. Now, zero in on Georgia O'Keeffe's hat. The way Stieglitz captures its folds and shadows suggests a kind of quiet strength. It’s a detail, sure, but it speaks volumes about O'Keeffe’s own artistic sensibility. It makes me think of the work of someone like Edward Steichen, another photographer who understood how to find the extraordinary in the everyday. Ultimately, this photograph is about the ongoing conversation between artists, across mediums and generations.