Rebecca Salsbury Strand 1922

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print titled 'Rebecca Salsbury Strand' sometime in the early 20th century. The high contrast black and white tones create a timeless feel, but it's the soft, almost dreamlike quality of the image that really grabs me. Look at how Stieglitz plays with light and shadow, especially on her back where the light delicately traces the contours of her spine. This kind of attention to detail is like a painter carefully building up layers of color. You can almost feel the coolness of the air and the warmth of the sun on her skin. I’m reminded of Edward Weston. Like Weston, Stieglitz was always pushing the boundaries of photography as an art form, showing us that a photograph can be just as expressive and evocative as a painting. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art is about so much more than just capturing reality; it’s about creating a feeling, a mood, a moment that stays with you long after you’ve turned away.