Ma and Georgia Engelhard 1915

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print of Ma and Georgia Engelhard sometime in the early 20th century. I see a quiet moment, two figures linked yet separate, caught in the act of living. The sepia tones give it a dreamy, antique feel. What was Stieglitz thinking as he framed this shot? Maybe he was drawn to the contrast between youth and age, or the subtle gestures of domesticity. The little girl clutches a notebook and pen, perhaps a symbol of budding creativity, while the older woman crochets, her hands busy with tradition. They are so close, yet each is so self-contained. The surface of the print has this gorgeous, almost velvet quality. The light is soft, creating a sense of intimacy, like a whisper shared between generations. Maybe Stieglitz was thinking of the great painters of the past when making this image, each brushstroke a tender observation. Artists are always in conversation, after all, responding to what came before, adding their own voice to the chorus.