From My Window at An American Place, North 1931

Alfred Stieglitz captured this black and white photograph, titled 'From My Window at An American Place, North' using a camera and photographic paper. The tonal range, from deep blacks to bright whites, emphasizes the textures of the city's architecture. Look closely and you'll see the steel skeletons of buildings under construction. Stieglitz transforms this industrial material into something visually arresting. Photography, like the steel and brick in the image, is itself a product of mass production. The photograph, therefore, reflects the rapid urban expansion and industrial advancements of the time. Consider the labor involved in erecting these towering structures, and the social implications of such growth. Stieglitz captures not just a physical landscape, but also a moment in the history of labor and material culture. By focusing on the built environment, Stieglitz asks us to consider the materials, the making, and the wider context of social and industrial development. This challenges the traditional idea of what is seen as fine art.