“A photo must represent, partake, suggest or reflect the object photographed but it is not a work of art because it does either or all of these. It must be alive as a photograph, have an existence of it’s own”
~ Edward Steichen
Woman as a subject has been a central focus of all the great masters both male and female in the history of art right from the beginning.
This is Steichen’s masterpiece and contribution to this continuum.
His colleague and mentor Alfred Stieglitz included it in his seminal publication “Camerawork”, a high honor indeed at the turn of the century .
The female figure is seated with her face shrouded in shadow, One knee is raised leaning to the left with her right arm extended across her body..
It is an image of beauty and mystery and tenderness