Georgia O'Keeffe 1931

This photograph of Georgia O’Keeffe, made by Alfred Stieglitz, shows an approach to light and shadow that's about more than just capturing an image. It's about feeling, about seeing. Look at how the light defines O’Keeffe’s face, her hands resting on the skull. There’s a stark contrast between the dark background and the bright skull, making it almost luminous. Then notice the rough texture of the wooden wall beside her. It gives the photograph a tactile quality, almost as if you could reach out and touch it. It reminds me of O’Keeffe's paintings where she magnifies objects, revealing their textures and forms in a way that makes them feel both familiar and strange. This portrait does something similar, capturing her essence with a directness that’s both intimate and powerful. Like the photography of Paul Strand, it suggests a world that's both real and deeply felt. For me, this photograph is about seeing, feeling, and the ongoing conversation between artists across different mediums.