Jennie (?) 1920

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print, Jennie (?), and what strikes me is the way it plays with light and shadow, really sculpting her face. It's like he's painting with light, finding form in the gradations from dark to light, a process of revelation rather than just documentation. The beauty of this image lies in its textures, from the smooth skin to the soft hair, the stark contrast of her collar, all rendered in silvery tones. I keep coming back to the subtle curve of her cheek, how it catches the light, suggesting a volume and presence. You can almost feel the texture of the photographic paper itself, it’s so immediate. Stieglitz reminds me of Gerhard Richter, both masters of their mediums, who explore the boundaries between representation and abstraction, and leave so much open to interpretation. Is it a portrait or an exploration of form? Maybe it’s both, a testament to the endless possibilities of artmaking.