Lecture Notes: Alfred Stieglitz's The Steerage

Overview

• Location: LACMA Study Center for Photography and Works on Paper
• Focus: Analysis of "The Steerage" by Alfred Stieglitz, an iconic 20th-century photograph

Context and Subject

• Captured during a trip to Europe with Stieglitz's wife and daughter
• Depicts steerage class, the cheapest accommodation on a ship
  • Often misinterpreted as immigrants arriving in America
  • Actually shows Europeans, some rejected at Ellis Island, some on worker visas
  • Misinterpretations include a figure thought to be Jewish in a prayer shawl

Symbolism and Ambivalence

• Symbolizes early 20th-century immigration experiences
• Stieglitz's personal ambivalence as a first-generation German Jewish American
  • Traveled first-class but was drawn to steerage class for diverse interactions
  • Felt stifled by his wealth and sought different experiences
• Reflects modern world dynamics: movement, immigration, and a mix of peoples

Artistic and Historical Significance

• Emphasized formal aspects of photography: shapes and lines
• Stieglitz's role in elevating photography to fine art
  • Published in numerous magazines; originally in his journal, Camera Work
  • Advocated for modern photography over pictorialism
• Considered "The Steerage" a turning point in his career
  • Pictorialism: Photographers mimicked the aesthetics of painting and drawing
  • Modern photography: Embracing the mechanical nature of cameras
  • Stieglitz saw the camera as a tool for documenting modern life

Composition and Influence

• Geometric shapes in the photograph create visual harmony
  • Represents modern life's dynamic and fast pace
• Capture was spontaneous; Stieglitz seized a compelling composition when he saw it

Legacy and Reinterpretations

• "The Steerage" is pivotal in American photography history
• Continues to inspire contemporary artists like Vik Muniz
  • Muniz reinterpreted the image using chocolate sauce
  • Highlights photography's mutability and the questioning of photographic truths

Conclusion

• Stieglitz's work marked a shift in the perception of photography as a legitimate art form
• "The Steerage" remains an influential piece, reflecting both the era it was created in and the evolving nature of photography as an artistic medium.