On the Seine—Near Paris Possibly 1894 - 1897

"On the Seine—Near Paris" is a photograph by Alfred Stieglitz, though the exact date remains unknown, and captures a moment along the riverbank with a cluster of goats resting. Stieglitz, a key figure in promoting photography as fine art, often found himself navigating the art world’s class distinctions, advocating for photography's place among painting and sculpture. In this photo, the scene evokes a sense of rural calm juxtaposed with the industrial presence of a boat on the Seine, reflecting early 20th-century tensions between nature and industrialization. The choice to focus on such a pastoral scene can be seen as a deliberate artistic decision. Looking closely, we can almost feel the quiet warmth of the afternoon sun and the stillness of the goats. Stieglitz invites us to consider the simple, unadorned beauty of everyday life, a theme that transcends class and speaks to a universal human experience.