Georgia O'Keeffe 1932

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe sometime during their long relationship. Here she is in a car, peering out, one hand holding a cigarette—or is it a paintbrush? She looks formidable. What was she thinking then? What kind of conversation were they having? I wonder if she's about to drive off to the desert, or just to her studio. The photograph itself has such great tonal range from the deep velvety black of the car to the silky white of the headscarf. Stieglitz has composed a portrait that is both intimate and distant, capturing her strength and vulnerability. The geometry of the car window frames her face, creating a sense of enclosure, while her gaze reaches out, engaging with the viewer. You can see the influence of photography on painting, and painting on photography. Artists like O'Keeffe and Stieglitz, were in constant dialogue, pushing each other, and pushing the boundaries of their respective mediums.