Untitled c. 1902

Joseph T. Keiley made this untitled photograph using platinum and gum on Japanese tissue. Isn’t it beautiful? Look at how the subtle tones softly render the sitter’s face in profile, with light gently cascading over their features. The dark shadows remind me of chiaroscuro. I wonder what it was like to be Keiley, carefully layering the platinum and gum, coaxing forth this delicate image. The process must have demanded patience, experimentation, and an intuitive understanding of materials. Perhaps he sought to capture not just a likeness, but an emotional truth, an inner essence. Keiley's work makes me think about Alfred Stieglitz’s photographs. I find myself looking at this image of an unknown person and imagining my own story about them. It makes me want to experiment with combining photographic processes myself and pushing the limits of what photography can do. This is what art should do, prompt conversation and inspire creative action.