Scurrying Home 1894 - 1897

Alfred Stieglitz made this photogravure, Scurrying Home, which captures a poignant scene of two women walking towards a church. Stieglitz was a key figure in promoting photography as an art form, and his work often reflects his personal experiences and the social climate of his time. In this image, the women, draped in dark cloaks, evoke a sense of melancholy. They are caught between the stark landscape and the looming church in the background which may represent spiritual solace or societal constraints. The choice to focus on women highlights the gendered experiences of the time. This piece seems to reflect the era’s complex interplay between faith, community, and the private lives of women. It invites us to reflect on the emotional weight of tradition and the silent narratives carried by those within it.