Georgia O'Keeffe 1922

Alfred Stieglitz captured this photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe using gelatin silver. Stieglitz was instrumental in promoting photography as a fine art in the early 20th century, challenging the traditional art establishment's preference for painting and sculpture. As the founder of the Photo-Secession movement and Gallery 291, he championed avant-garde art and artists, including O'Keeffe, whom he later married. This portrait is part of a larger series that documented O'Keeffe over many years, reflecting Stieglitz's belief in the power of photography to capture the essence of a subject. The image invites viewers to contemplate the role of gender in the art world, with O'Keeffe presented as both muse and artist. The image speaks to the evolving status of women in the arts during a period of significant social change. To delve deeper, explore the archives of Gallery 291, and consider the writings of art critics who debated the merits of photography as an art form. These resources can offer insights into the social and institutional contexts that shaped both Stieglitz's work and O'Keeffe's reception.