Dorothy Norman 1931

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of Dorothy Norman at some point in his career. The delicate gradations of tone in this image feel incredibly intimate, like the visual equivalent of a hushed conversation. It's all about the light, how it sculpts the face, the soft transitions between shadow and highlight, and the way the eyes are cast. The texture of the photographic paper itself adds another layer, a kind of tactile quality that invites you in. Look at the way Stieglitz frames Norman's face, drawing attention to her gaze and the subtle curve of her lips. There is something about this image that reminds me of the portraits of another great photographer, Diane Arbus, and the work of painters like Alice Neel, all of whom invite the viewer to connect with the subject on an emotional level. What does this image communicate to you? Ultimately, it's about the exchange of ideas, across time and mediums.