Georgia O'Keeffe—Hands 1920 - 1922

Editor: Alfred Stieglitz's photographic portrait, *Georgia O'Keeffe—Hands*, created sometime between 1920 and 1922. The close cropping makes the hands so central. What strikes me is the everyday, domestic nature of this image of a famous artist. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, this image resonates with symbolic weight far beyond the act of peeling an apple. Think about the hand: across cultures, it signifies creation, action, and connection. Stieglitz isolates O’Keeffe's hands, making them almost monumental. Notice the detail – the skin, the shadows, the texture of the fruit. Editor: I see what you mean. The monochrome print emphasizes the texture. It's so intimate, almost reverential. Curator: Exactly. Consider the apple too. Its symbolic history is laden with associations—knowledge, temptation, nourishment. By showing O’Keeffe carefully peeling it, is Stieglitz making a statement about the artist carefully crafting her art? Perhaps peeling away layers to get to the core of creativity? Editor: That's fascinating! I never thought about the layers of symbolism. Does the 'peeling' action convey something deeper, related to Stieglitz peeling away, revealing O'Keeffe, his muse? Curator: Possibly. It’s a question of what continuities or cultural memories the images call upon, or construct. What are your impressions? Editor: I now feel I'm viewing a complex visual metaphor. These aren't just hands and apples, but a story about creation, partnership, and the revealing of the artistic self. Curator: Precisely. Stieglitz captured more than just an image; he crafted an icon laden with personal and cultural meaning.