Ellen Koeniger, Lake George 1916

Alfred Stieglitz took this photograph, titled 'Ellen Koeniger, Lake George', with his camera. The play of light on the woman's body is so evocative! What was it like to stand there as Stieglitz made this image? Did the water feel cold? Was she a willing participant in the photographer’s artistic vision? I mean, you can imagine the water dripping down her back, and the bathing suit clinging to her form. The ripples on the lake, like strokes of a brush, add a sense of movement to the composition. The light and shadow are also so gorgeous, creating a rich tonal range that really brings out the textures and contours of the woman’s figure. Stieglitz’s photography was deeply influential to painters, and he was involved in avant-garde art circles in America. Artists have looked to photography for inspiration, and photographers have looked to painting. This photograph in particular makes me think about the ongoing dialogue between these two mediums, and how each informs and enriches the other.