Equivalent c. 1927

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph of clouds, titled "Equivalent," sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Looking at the tones, the subtle gradations from light to dark, it feels like he's chasing after something fleeting, a feeling, or a memory. Like painting, photography is about capturing a moment, but it’s also about what you leave out. Here, the surface is so smooth, it's hard to see the artist’s hand at work. It’s a bit of a trick, because of course, his hand was there all along, choosing the focus, the exposure, the composition. The clouds themselves are like abstract forms, they have this incredible range of grays, from almost white to deep charcoal. See how the light catches the edges, making them glow? That’s what gives the image its emotional punch. Stieglitz was deeply influenced by modern art, particularly the work of Georgia O’Keeffe, his wife. Like O’Keeffe's paintings of flowers or landscapes, Stieglitz’s clouds are both representational and symbolic, offering a glimpse into the artist’s inner world. Art is about seeing, but more than that, it's about feeling.