Portrait—K.N.R., No. 2 or Songs of the Sky C2 1923

Alfred Stieglitz created this gelatin silver print titled, *Portrait—K.N.R., No. 2 or Songs of the Sky C2*. The photograph presents a study in contrasts and textures, with the dark silhouette of a tree juxtaposed against a sky filled with luminous clouds. Stieglitz masterfully uses light and shadow to evoke a sense of depth and atmosphere. This image is part of Stieglitz's "Songs of the Sky" series, or what he called "equivalents." Here, Stieglitz aimed to capture the essence of his emotional states through abstract representations of natural forms. In this way, Stieglitz destabilizes the conventional notion of a portrait as merely a depiction of a person. Instead, he offers a portrait of inner experience, using nature as a metaphor for human emotion. The cloud formations and the stark, reaching branches are carefully arranged to create a composition that is both visually striking and emotionally resonant. Stieglitz's work pushes the boundaries of photography as a medium for personal expression. It invites us to consider the ways in which art can communicate beyond the literal.