The Old Maple—Lake George

Art Historical Context

Alfred Stieglitz *The Old Maple—Lake* (1926) captures the rugged beauty of a solitary tree on the shores of Lake George, York—a place that became a profound source of inspiration for the artist during his later years. Stieglitz, a pioneering advocate for photography as fine art, spent summers at his wife Georgia O'Keeffe's family estate, producing intimate studies of nature that transcended mere documentation. This gelatin silver print, trimmed to its image edges at 11.7 × 9.2 cm, exemplifies his shift toward "straight photography," emphasizing clarity and emotional resonance over pictorialist manipulation. Printed on a larger mount (34.2 × 27.5 cm), the work is part of Stieglitz's celebrated "Equivalents" series, where natural forms like clouds and trees served as visual metaphors for inner states of mind. The gelatin silver process allowed for exceptional tonal range and detail, highlighting the maple's textured bark and organic form against the landscape. Donated as part of the Alfred Stieglitz Collection to the National Gallery of Art, it underscores his legacy in elevating photography within museum walls. This modest yet powerful image invites viewers to contemplate nature's quiet grandeur, bridging personal introspection with universal themes—a testament to Stieglitz's enduring influence on modern photography.

About the Artist

Alfred Stieglitz · 1864–1946

Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946) was a pioneering American photographer, art dealer, publisher, and advocate for the Modernist movement who was instrumental over his 50-year career in making photography an accepted art form. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to German Jewish immigrant parents, Stieglitz spent his formative years studying mechanical engineering in Berlin, where he discovered photography in ...