Lake George 1922

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, "Lake George," using gelatin silver print, a process involving coating paper with light-sensitive silver halides. The tonal range achieved through this method influences the photograph’s aesthetic profoundly. The dark, brooding clouds contrast with the subtle gradations of light on the water, creating a powerful sense of atmosphere. Stieglitz, a champion of photography as fine art, elevated what was seen as a purely commercial or documentary process. He did this by emphasizing the hand of the artist, the careful selection of viewpoint, and the manipulation of the developing process. In doing so, he not only engaged with the industrial means of production but also transcended them, claiming photography as a medium capable of deep artistic expression. By understanding the materials and process, we recognize how Stieglitz challenged the traditional hierarchy between craft and art, imbuing a machine-made image with profound artistic and emotional depth.