Jennie (?) 1920

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print, ‘Jennie (?)’, at an unknown date. Photography, unlike painting or sculpture, is an indexical medium – light reflects off the subject, activating the silver particles in the gelatin emulsion, and producing a negative. From this, a positive print is created. While the camera automates image production, there is still much hand work involved in the darkroom. Stieglitz was a master of tonal control, achieved through manipulating development times, dodging and burning the print during exposure, and choice of paper. All this labor is in service of a seemingly straightforward portrait. But consider how the image's apparent naturalism obscures the layers of technical expertise involved. Stieglitz, as an advocate for photography as fine art, was invested in demonstrating the medium's potential for expressive manipulation. Ultimately, it is in understanding the depth of the artist's technical skills and the layers of processes and aesthetic considerations involved in creating a photograph that we can elevate our understanding of photography from a mere medium to a complex and valued art form.