Georgia O'Keeffe—Torso 1918

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe, called 'Torso,' sometime in the early 20th century, and it's a stunner. The sepia tones create this incredible softness. Looking at it, I’m struck by the layering of light and shadow, and how it almost feels like he’s sculpting with light, like he’s got a brush instead of a camera. The way the light drapes across her body, it’s almost abstract, you know? The details, like the curve of her hip or the shadow under her breast, it’s like he’s inviting you to really see. It reminds me of some of the modernist photographers like Edward Weston, who were also exploring the human form in a new way. But Stieglitz has this intimacy that's all his own. It's a beautiful, quiet conversation.