Dorothy Norman 1930 - 1931

This photograph of Dorothy Norman was made by Alfred Stieglitz sometime in the first half of the 20th Century. It's a small picture, intimate, as if whispering a secret about its subject. The composition's directness draws you right in. The woman's face, framed by a dark cap, stares out with a level gaze, and the contrasting zigzags of her scarf create a dynamic tension. This is photography as portraiture, but it’s also photography about photography. Look closely and you see the hand of the artist in the darkroom: the subtle gradations of light and shadow, the way the image resolves into stark contrasts of black and white. The framing is tight, cropping in close so her expression dominates the space and we find ourselves asking questions of her. Think of other photographers like Diane Arbus, who also used photography to confront the viewer with images of sometimes discomforting intensity. Ultimately, this photograph isn’t just about seeing; it’s about feeling seen.