Harvesting Possibly 1894 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz created this photogravure titled 'Harvesting'. We don't have the date, but it captures a rural scene with a woman hard at work. This image invites us to consider the social and economic context of agricultural labor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The woman's posture, bent over as she gathers crops, speaks to the physical demands of farm work. It's interesting to think about how Stieglitz, known for his modern art photography, turns his lens toward this subject. Was he commenting on the changing landscape of American society, where industrialization was rapidly transforming traditional ways of life? Or was this simply an aesthetic study in light and form? To truly understand Stieglitz's motivations, we might look at his writings and those of his contemporaries, as well as the social and economic histories of the time. The meaning of this image is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape in which it was created.