The Blue Sky – Dana Steichen 1923

Edward Steichen made this print, titled ‘The Blue Sky – Dana Steichen’, using gelatin silver, somewhere in the early 20th century. Imagine the artist lying in the grass right alongside his subject, his daughter Dana, both gazing up, framing her face with blades of grass. The light, soft and diffused, gently caresses her skin. This photograph feels less about capturing a likeness and more about evoking a mood, a feeling of languid reverie. I wonder what Steichen was thinking as he clicked the shutter. Perhaps he was contemplating the transience of childhood, the fleeting beauty of youth, or the simple pleasure of a summer's day. The sepia tone adds a layer of nostalgia, as if we're peering into a cherished memory. Like many photographers of his time, Steichen blurred the boundaries between painting and photography. This image feels deeply personal, an intimate portrait imbued with tenderness and affection. It reminds us that artmaking is always an act of connection.