Dorothy Schubart 1919 - 1922

This is a photograph of Dorothy Schubart by Alfred Stieglitz. Looking at it, I imagine Stieglitz in the darkroom, coaxing the image out of the chemicals, controlling the light, and making something appear. It’s a soft, warm portrait. Schubart's expression is direct, but there’s also something veiled and mysterious about her gaze. She’s holding what looks like the oars of a boat, which gives a casual feel, as though she’s been caught in a private moment. I wonder what they talked about, what the atmosphere was like. Stieglitz was so influential, so serious about photography as an art form. This picture feels like a moment of connection, a human exchange captured in tones of brown and cream. All artists have a way of looking, and Stieglitz's is one I enjoy. His photos remind us of the intimacy and intensity that can be found in a single, well-composed frame.