Self-Portrait 1898 - 1899

Alfred Stieglitz’s self-portrait is a small gelatin silver print, a process which involves coating paper with light-sensitive silver halides. This process, while seemingly straightforward, required precise control of variables like temperature and chemical concentrations, reflecting the industrialization of photography in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Stieglitz was a champion of photography as a fine art. He used the gelatin silver process to achieve a soft, painterly effect. He manipulated the print during development, dodging and burning areas to control the tonal range, thereby elevating photography beyond mere documentation. His choice of materials and techniques reflects a conscious effort to align photography with other established artistic mediums. By emphasizing the artistic potential inherent in the photographic process, Stieglitz challenges the traditional hierarchy that separates craft from fine art. This elevation of the photographic print as a handcrafted object underscores the importance of materiality and making in understanding the medium's artistic value.