Alfred Stieglitz's Indispensible Influence

Yesterday, William Kowinski discussed  An American Lens: Scenes from Alfred Stieglitz’s New York by Jay Bochner, on his blog, Books in Heat.  He finds that while early 20th century photography in general (and Stieglitz in particular) has been neglected by scholars. they were pivotal to the development of American art:

We’re not exactly bereft of books about this very important—and for us now, perhaps very romantic period—in the arts, the early 20th century in Europe and America. But after so many tomes (as well as exhibits) about the painters, poets, musicians, dancers and pioneer filmmakers, particularly in Europe, it’s a little surprising to realize we haven’t had much about a man who was the vital link between Europe and the emerging Americans, and who put his stamp on the whole century with the work he introduced and championed, and produced.

Perhaps it has something to do with Alfred Stieglitz being a photographer, the most neglected art of that period. Yet as Jay Bochner demonstrates in this fascinating book, Stieglitz may be our invisible man, but he was that era’s indispensable man.

[snip]

I’m sure Bochner is a fine scholar and critic, but he also has that indispensable talent of storytellers: he gets us interested in what fascinates him through what he chooses to describe and narrate. So out of this collection of anecdotes, observations, critiques, forgotten or obscure historical moments that seem formed as responses to unknown interlocutors, emerges an entertaining book and, by the way, an absorbing and gallant portrait of the life and times and undervalued accomplishments of Alfred Stieglitz.

The entire post can be read Here.