Georgia Engelhard 1922

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, ‘Georgia Engelhard’, using gelatin silver. There’s a softness to this image that feels so tactile, so human. The light is muted, almost as if diffused through silk, and the tones are like a memory, both there and not there. I wonder what Stieglitz and Engelhard were thinking and feeling at the time of capture. How many shots did they take to get this one? The placement of Engelhard feels so considered. The way she stands, her body arched slightly with her toes submerged beneath the surface of the water—communicates a sense of vulnerability and strength. There is a stillness about the subject that is both serene and slightly melancholic, calling to mind the work of other photographers like Julia Margaret Cameron. Photographers inspire one another across decades and centuries, using light and shadow to convey meaning and emotion. Each shot captures a fleeting moment and preserves it, inviting us to contemplate and connect with the art on a deeply personal level.