Jean Toomer 1925

Alfred Stieglitz made this gelatin silver print, “Jean Toomer”, at an undetermined date, but what strikes me is the atmospheric quality that he has achieved. The tones in this image are so subtle and yet create a real sense of depth. There’s a softness, almost like a painting, which contrasts with the sharp focus on Toomer's face. Look at the way the light catches his cheekbone, and the thoughtful expression in his eyes. It's like Stieglitz is trying to capture not just a likeness, but the essence of the man. Stieglitz was a master of manipulating the photographic process. He embraces the unique qualities of photography, its ability to capture light and shadow, to create mood and atmosphere. You could compare this with the work of someone like Edward Steichen, another photographer who blurred the lines between photography and painting. And in the end, it is this ambiguity that makes the image so compelling.