Georgia O'Keeffe 1932

Alfred Stieglitz made this portrait of Georgia O’Keeffe as a photograph, using light and shadow to explore her form. I always wonder what it must have been like for O'Keeffe to sit for Stieglitz. She was, herself, such a celebrated artist, and here she is, the subject, the model. What thoughts were going through her mind? Did she collaborate, or was she simply a muse? I think, perhaps, this image speaks to a collaboration between equals. I can imagine the two of them discussing the light, the angle, the expression. I think of O'Keeffe's paintings, those stark, sensual flowers and desert landscapes. And in this photo, I see a similar clarity, a similar strength. Artists inspire each other. They're in constant conversation, across time and space. This image is another kind of conversation. It captures a moment, a feeling, a connection between two artists. And it invites us to join in, to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the work.