Katherine Herzig 1922

Alfred Stieglitz created this portrait of Katherine Herzig using a photographic process involving light-sensitive materials and meticulous darkroom techniques. Photography, in Stieglitz's time, was at a crossroads, seen by some as a purely mechanical means of reproduction, and by others as a medium for artistic expression. Stieglitz championed the latter, manipulating the photographic process to achieve painterly effects. The soft focus and delicate tonal range in this print weren't accidental; they were carefully crafted through choices in lenses, exposure times, and printing methods, aligning photography with the aesthetic values of painting and drawing. Stieglitz’s approach elevated photography beyond mere documentation, insisting it was as valid an artistic practice as any other. It's a reminder that all art is made, that the artist's hand and choices are always present, even in a medium that might seem inherently objective. This reframes our understanding of photography, linking it to histories of skilled making.