Night, New York Possibly 1898 - 1934

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Night, New York, using gelatin silver. It's a study in contrasts, the way light hits the snow creating a delicate, almost painterly texture against the dark, velvety backdrop. It makes me think about how a painter might approach a canvas, layering tones to build depth, and how Stieglitz used light to sculpt the scene, as if he were carving out the image with a brush. Check out the lower left corner, you'll see the texture of the snow bank and how it suggests a sense of depth. See how this detail mirrors the broader composition of the scene. The snow is bright and alive, juxtaposed against the dark tones. Stieglitz reminds me a little bit of Whistler and his nocturnes. Both artists found poetry in the city, embracing ambiguity and mood. It's like they're inviting us to see the world not as it is, but as it feels.