Homeward Possibly 1894 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, "Homeward," using a photogravure technique. Stieglitz, a prominent figure in the Photo-Secession movement, advocated for photography as a fine art during a time when it was often dismissed as merely a technical process. This image encapsulates the longing for connection and belonging, themes deeply intertwined with the immigrant experience at the turn of the century. Observe the solitary figure in the distance, walking down the road by the river's edge, while goats gather along the roadside, seeking rest under the shade of the trees. They evoke the feelings of those displaced, who are looking for a sense of place. Stieglitz, of German-Jewish heritage, understood the complexities of identity and belonging. His work often explored the tension between tradition and modernity, reflecting the rapid social changes of his time. "Homeward" invites us to consider our own journeys and the universal search for home.