Alfred Stieglitz

Alfred Stieglitz (1864–1946) was a pioneering American photographer of German-Jewish descent, renowned for his lifelong mission to establish photography as a fine art on par with painting and sculpture. Over a 50-year career, he transitioned from pictorialism—emulating painterly aesthetics—to championing “straight photography,” emphasizing qualities intrinsic to the medium such as depth of field and precise framing. Beyond his photographic work, Stieglitz played a central role as editor, publisher, and gallerist. He founded the influential magazine Camera Work and directed the New York gallery “291,” where he introduced American audiences to modern European masters like Picasso and Matisse, as well as emerging American artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, who later became his wife. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, Stieglitz left a lasting mark on both the history of photography and the broader landscape of 20th-century art.