Georgia O'Keeffe c. 1919

This is a photograph of Georgia O’Keeffe, made by Alfred Stieglitz. It is one of many portraits he made of her. Stieglitz had a way of making photos look soft, almost painterly. Look at the tones in her face, how the light catches her brow and cheek. It's so subtle. The tones feel so internal. The way the image is composed, with Georgia off to the side and gazing away, makes you wonder what she’s thinking about. Stieglitz made so many images of O’Keefe over the years. In doing so, he was really exploring her, or maybe exploring himself through her. It reminds me a little of Picasso's many portraits of Dora Maar, each one an attempt to capture something essential, while also transforming the subject through the artist's gaze. Art isn't about capturing reality; it’s about the ongoing conversation between the artist, the subject, and the viewer.