Ida O'Keeffe 1924

Alfred Stieglitz created this gelatin silver print of Ida O'Keeffe in the United States. Stieglitz was a key figure in promoting photography as a fine art. He founded the Photo-Secession movement, challenging the established art world's hierarchy. His photographs, often portraits, captured the spirit of the early 20th century, a time of rapid social and cultural change. In this image, he presents Ida O'Keeffe, sister of his later wife Georgia, with a sense of intimacy and informality. The photograph's soft focus and careful composition invite the viewer to consider the sitter's character. Stieglitz's choice of subject is itself a statement. During this time, women were fighting for greater social and political recognition, and Stieglitz's portraits of women, often artists themselves, challenged traditional representations. Examining Stieglitz's personal papers, exhibition records, and the writings of his contemporaries can give us even greater insights into the cultural and institutional contexts that shaped his work.