Alfred Stieglitz 1932

This is a photograph of Alfred Stieglitz by Dorothy Norman. It's all about blacks, whites, and grays, that tonal dance that photography does so well. Look at the way the light falls on Stieglitz's face. It's like Norman is sculpting him with light, bringing out the texture of his skin, the lines etched by time, and those intense eyes behind his glasses. You can almost feel the weight of his gaze. There's a beautiful softness, a kind of reverence, in how she captures him. Notice the dark background, how it makes his face pop, like a beacon. It reminds me a little of some of Edward Steichen’s portraits. But while Steichen could be all about glamour, Norman strips things back, getting closer to something essential. It's a really intimate portrait, less about the legend, more about the person. It’s a conversation. A moment shared, captured in silver gelatin. Art is just one big, long conversation anyway.