Twilight Possibly 1894 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Twilight, using a photogravure process. Stieglitz, a key figure in the Photo-Secession movement, sought to elevate photography to the status of fine art during a period of immense social and technological change. This image invites us to consider the intersection of industrial progress and its environmental consequences, and was created during an era marked by rapid industrialization in the United States. The steamboat, a symbol of modernity, belches smoke that merges with the sky, creating a somber, almost melancholic mood. The tones and soft focus of the photogravure process evoke a sense of nostalgia, even as the scene suggests the encroachment of industry upon the natural world. How does this image speak to our current moment, as we continue to grapple with the ecological impact of our modern lives? Consider how Stieglitz uses the medium to create not just a picture, but an experience, a meditation on the changing landscape.