Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye

Rightly regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of American art, Alfred Stieglitz's life and work is the subject of this thoughtful documentary, which originally aired as part of the praiseworthy PBS American Masters series. One of the great photographers of the 20th century by any informed estimation, Stieglitz's eloquent eye did not simply pertain to his own work; he was a remarkably astute judge of the artistic value of other photographers' work, and a shrewd viewer of modern art, particularly abstract painting. The owner of three important galleries in New York City, Stieglitz assembled Picasso's first show in the U.S. and supported American artists such as Marsden Hartley and Arthur Dove. Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye provides informed commentary from art historians and Stieglitz biographers and includes several illuminating moments from an interview with Georgia O'Keefe, filmed in 1980 in New Mexico (the Stieglitz-O'Keefe love affair preoccupied the arts press in the 1920s). A marvelous documentary on one of the visionaries of modern American art, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: the DVD includes a timeline of Stieglitz's life.] Aud: H, C, P. (P. Van Vleck)