The Truant, Mittenwald Possibly 1886 - 1896

"The Truant, Mittenwald" is a photo by Alfred Stieglitz, dating back to 1886-1896. This candid photo captures a young boy, possibly a truant, standing barefoot outside a building with a woman looking out from behind a door. The image highlights the naturalistic style of Stieglitz's early work, a contrast to the more formal portraiture of the time. This image is a quintessential example of Pictorialism, a movement where photographers aimed to elevate the artistic value of the medium, drawing inspiration from painting and other art forms. Stieglitz, a pioneer of photography, captured a slice of everyday life with poignant realism, portraying the boy's innocence and the woman's concern with a compelling composition.