Jean Toomer 1925

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of Jean Toomer sometime in the early part of the 20th century. Look at how Stieglitz coaxes such a range of tones out of black and white. He’s not just capturing a likeness, he's conjuring a mood. The texture of the paper itself feels palpable, like a memory made solid. See the way the light catches the soft collar of Toomer's coat, how it almost glows against the darker fabric? The subtle gradations in the background, too, suggest depth and space. Stieglitz coaxes something tender from his subject. Think of how the photographer manipulates light and shadow to create a sense of intimacy, a kind of quiet knowing. It reminds me of some of the early modernist portrait painters, like Alice Neel, who were also interested in capturing the inner lives of their subjects. There's a conversation happening here, across time and mediums, about what it means to truly see someone.