Emmy Obermeyer, Agnes Stieglitz, and Flora Small at Oaklawn Possibly 1893 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz captured this image, titled "Emmy Obermeyer, Agnes Stieglitz, and Flora Small at Oaklawn," using gelatin silver print. The photograph depicts three women in a tranquil outdoor setting; their tennis rackets and attire mark them as participants in a leisurely pastime. But let us look closer: see the tree under which they sit? The tree, a universal symbol, evokes the Tree of Knowledge, or even the Tree of Life, and thus alludes to deeper connections between nature, knowledge, and human existence. From ancient myths to modern art, the tree has been a symbol of growth and interconnectedness. Think of the Nordic Yggdrasil, linking the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. Here, the tree presides over a scene of feminine companionship and leisure, its presence a constant reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the organic growth of human relationships. The women echo the stillness of the dog asleep on the chair, an emotional resonance that transcends the mere snapshot of a moment. Stieglitz presents us with a quiet commentary on the turn of the century’s social mores, framed by symbols whose roots lie deep in the human psyche.