The Beach, Katwyk Possibly 1894 - 1934

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, The Beach, Katwyk, with gelatin silver. Just look at the tonal range in this print! It’s like he’s painting with light, layering grays and whites to build up the scene. There’s a gorgeous softness to it, a blurriness that feels both accidental and intentional. The way the figures on the beach blend into the background, it's as though the artist isn't creating a document, but instead, is evoking a feeling. Take the area where the water meets the sand: See how the line dissolves, becoming almost ethereal? It’s the kind of effect you might get with a really soft brush, blurring the edges between colors. Stieglitz reminds me a bit of Gerhard Richter, especially his seascapes. Both artists are interested in how photography can capture a moment but also distort it, turning reality into something dreamlike and ambiguous. And isn't that what art is all about – finding new ways to see the world?