Georgia O'Keeffe 1922

Curator: This striking gelatin-silver print is entitled "Georgia O'Keeffe" and was captured in 1922 by Alfred Stieglitz. Editor: There’s an undeniable gravity here, a certain stoicism etched on O’Keeffe’s face. The severe contrast between the whites and blacks lends an almost haunting quality. Curator: Indeed. Stieglitz was a champion of photography as a fine art. What is particularly interesting is how Stieglitz uses the gelatin-silver process, which allowed for a greater tonal range, lending itself to the detailed capture of O’Keeffe’s face and the textures of her clothing, while blurring the boundary between photographic craft and artistic vision. Editor: Absolutely. And to view this now, understanding their complicated relationship, adds layers to this already potent image. Here’s O'Keeffe, presented not as muse, but as a distinct, self-possessed individual standing apart from Stieglitz as photographer and man. The somewhat masculine presentation of her outfit clashes perfectly with her soft features; subverting the idea that gender plays a role in strength and determination. Curator: It really calls attention to their shared aesthetic. Their artistic relationship was a site of constant negotiation. There's something about the way he chooses to photograph her that hints at this back-and-forth of artistic control. We have the subject presented as unyielding through careful compositional details that would have certainly taken several shots to create. Editor: The framing, placing her slightly off-center with that rough, aged piece of wood creates such a strong image; and this creates the feeling of a harsh exterior. It makes you wonder what life experiences formed O’Keeffe into this very stoic looking individual. Curator: The gelatin-silver printing technique allowed for greater manipulation in the darkroom, it must be mentioned, meaning he might have intentionally wanted us to only look at that hardness. Every step of the production allows manipulation that changes what the image initially was. Editor: Ultimately, this photograph challenges us to look beyond the surface, and question assumptions around the relationships and contexts of those who appear within this image. The interplay between strength and vulnerability resonates deeply even today. Curator: Precisely, seeing it in light of its materials reminds us that it exists thanks to technology and is always a human construct with all the beauty, choices and imperfections this entails.