Lake George 1922 - 1923

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Lake George, most likely with a large format camera that allowed him to capture the nuances of light and shadow. What I notice first is the sky: those cloud formations, like brushstrokes, sweeping down, full of movement and feeling. I imagine Stieglitz out there, composing this shot, thinking about the tonal range he could achieve. It reminds me of the work of Georgia O’Keeffe, his wife, and other artists in his circle, such as Marsden Hartley, all trying to find ways to capture the sublime in nature. This image feels like a quiet revolution, a shift towards abstraction through photography, like a conversation with painting, or a challenge to it. The dark, silhouetted landscape grounds the image, but it's the sky that really sings here. It's like Stieglitz wanted us to see the world anew, to feel its energy and mystery. It’s a reminder that artists are always looking, always experimenting, always pushing the boundaries of what art can be.