Georgia O'Keeffe 1921

This is a photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe by Alfred Stieglitz, it's hard to pin down exactly when he took it, but it doesn't really matter, does it? Stieglitz has this way of using light, like he's painting with it. The tones are so soft, almost velvety. Look at the way the light catches the curve of her neck, or the sharp angle of her nose. It's all about the surface, the texture, the way the light moves across it. He's not just showing us what she looks like, but how he sees her, you know? There's this area, right around her ear, where the light fades into shadow. It's so subtle, but it gives the whole picture this feeling of depth and mystery. Think of someone like Edward Steichen, who was also playing with photography as painting around the same time. They both had this idea that art wasn't about capturing reality, but about creating a feeling. It's a conversation, art, a constant back and forth across time.