Dorothy True 1919

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Dorothy True, sometime in the early 20th century. It’s a study of a woman's leg and shoe, all in a palette of blacks, greys, and whites. I can imagine Stieglitz carefully arranging the composition, tweaking the angle of the leg, the placement of the shoe, to achieve the perfect balance of form and light. It makes me think about his relationship with Georgia O'Keeffe, and how they pushed each other, and challenged the status quo. There is a tension between the abstract and representational elements, so that the shiny surface of the shoe and the curve of the leg, become almost sculptural forms against the stark background. The severe diagonal slice of light creates an arresting composition. I like how it references the work of earlier artists, like Manet or Degas, who were also interested in capturing fleeting moments of modern life. Artists are always building on the ideas of those who came before, riffing on old themes, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.