127. The Steerage

 

The Steerage Alfred Stieglitz. 1907 C.E., New York, NY. Photogravure The Steerage is considered Stieglitz's signature work, and was proclaimed by the artist and illustrated in histories of the medium as his first "modernist" photograph.

Form: photograph

function:  to show the social divisions of society to show photography as a fine art

Content: Diagonals and framing effect of ladders, sails, steam pipes, etc depicts the poorest travelers on a ship from US to Europe visas expired? turned away from the US? steerage = the part of a ship reserved for passengers with the cheapest tickets

Context:  1902-1917 was Alfred Stieglitz's Gallery 291 most progressive gallery in US Photography showcased right next to avant garde and modern works Photography is becoming its own art form Stieglitz arranged little in his photographs—took pictures of life as it happened emphasized clarity and realism (aka, a camera's strengths) he was way more focused on the composition and the art of the photograph rather than the subject matter he neglected talking about the subject matter because his political opinions on immigration were conflicting and he instead used the photo to argue that photography = fine art Photo published in 1911 in Camera Work he was influenced by cubists Wife is Georgia O'Keefe https://learnodo-newtonic.com/georgia-okeeffe-famous-paintings