Before the Smithy's Possibly 1890 - 1896

Alfred Stieglitz captured “Before the Smithy’s” with his camera, rendering this photogravure print. In the late 19th century, Stieglitz elevated photography to fine art. Here, he turns his lens toward labor, depicting two workers with their tools, against a backdrop of aged stone and shadowed archways. The image vibrates with social context, reflecting the era's rapid industrial change and the lives of the working class. Stieglitz, from a privileged background, found beauty and dignity in the everyday lives of laborers. The photograph is an intimate observation of work, but also a commentary on class and the changing landscape of society. It invites us to reflect on the historical shifts that shape individual lives and the emotional weight carried by those who navigate these changes. "Before the Smithy’s" reminds us of the stories embedded in the past and their relevance to our present.