The Hand of Man Possibly 1902 - 1939

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print, ‘The Hand of Man,’ in the early 20th century. The grey scale gives the scene a timeless, almost ghostly quality. Imagine Stieglitz, positioning his camera, waiting for the perfect moment to capture this scene of industrial might. I can feel the chill in the air, the dampness of the tracks, and the grimy smoke billowing from the locomotive. The parallel lines of the tracks converge, pulling you into the heart of the image. The photograph invites reflection on the relationship between humanity and industrial progress. I notice the stark contrast of the industrial scene with the title. It's a powerful statement on the human impact on the landscape, a theme explored by many artists of his time. It’s also a reflection on the artist’s own hand in shaping the image, framing the world through his lens. That's it. Let's move on.