Alfred Stieglitz and Rebecca Strand at Lake George 1922

This photograph was captured by Paul Strand, likely in the early decades of the 20th century. It shows Alfred Stieglitz and Rebecca Strand at Lake George. As a photographer, Paul Strand worked with light-sensitive materials and chemical processes, tools and darkroom techniques, to produce evocative images. In this portrait, the tonal range, from deep blacks to bright whites, gives the image a tactile quality. Strand was a master of black-and-white photography, manipulating these tones to create a sense of depth and texture, and capture a moment in time. The photograph’s social significance lies in its representation of the intimate relationship between Stieglitz and Rebecca, and its creation by Paul Strand. Through his work and the labor of capturing and developing images, he invites us to reflect on the complexities of human relationships and the beauty of the natural world. The photograph's importance comes not only from its subject matter but also from the processes of photography itself.