From My Window at the Shelton, North 1931

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, "From My Window at the Shelton, North," in the early 20th century. It captures a New York City skyline marked by towering skyscrapers. Through the lens of his camera, Stieglitz documented not just buildings, but the burgeoning cultural and economic power of the United States. He himself was instrumental in professionalizing the art of photography, and ensuring its acceptance into the established American art world. This image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations, connecting to the socio-political context of a rapidly modernizing nation. To truly understand Stieglitz's work, one needs to consider the institutional history of photography. His efforts to create a space for photography in galleries and museums, as well as the historical trajectory of New York City's urban development. Such insights come from meticulous research of period documents, exhibition catalogs, and critical essays of the time.