"The Steerage"

"The Steerage," by Alfred Stieglitz, is a photograph capturing a moment on a ship's lower deck, where poorer passengers traveled. It highlights social class divisions through composition: the crowded, darker space contrasts with the glimpses of sunlight and higher classes nearby. The image emphasizes the physical and social boundaries between different groups of people, illustrating issues of class, identity, and mobility. Essentially, it’s a visual reflection on societal divides, portraying the everyday reality of those in steerage class and inviting viewers to consider issues of inequality and shipping life during the early 20th century.