Georgia O'Keeffe 1922

This photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz captures an artist's gaze, or maybe it captures more. Imagine Stieglitz behind the camera, coaxing out something new from O’Keeffe each time, not just a likeness, but some sort of truth. Her eyes meet ours, and it’s more of a challenge than a polite exchange. The hat casts shadows, framing her face like a canvas within a canvas. You see so many portraits of women, they're very often passive, and so it's interesting to me that this portrait captures something different. I wonder what she was thinking at that moment, what had they been discussing? She looks both vulnerable and strong; you can see her power. Stieglitz found a way to let the painting come to life. Every time you look at it, you might catch another glimpse of her. That’s the magic of a portrait, isn’t it?