Equivalent

1926

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows a dramatic sky filled with dark, brooding clouds. There is no visible horizon line as the view is directed towards the sky, capturing the mass and movement of the clouds against the light. The clouds closest are densely packed and exhibit a swirling formation, creating a tumultuous atmosphere. The brush-like strokes of the cloud formations suggest a natural, fluid motion, as the clouds blend from darker to lighter shades. The palette is predominantly dark and intense, with deep blacks and soft grays intermingling to emphasize the depth and volume of the clouds. The variations in light and shadow across the sky hint at a small source of light, likely the sun, partially obscured, creating a play of highlights and darker patches.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 11.7 x 9.2 cm (4 5/8 x 3 5/8 in.)
    mount: 34.6 x 27.6 cm (13 5/8 x 10 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.958

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    219E

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    1163

The image shows a man leaning his head on his hand, positioned with his face resting on his left hand. He has a mustache, thin-framed eyeglasses, and thick, greying hair that curls slightly at the edges. He is dressed in a formal jacket, a white shirt, and a black bow tie. The background is a soft, dark blur.

Alfred Stieglitz

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Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Georgia O'Keeffe; gift to NGA, 1949.

Associated Names

Bibliography

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 2, cat. 1163.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite, underlined: Best of this; center verso: B 1
by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 219E

Wikidata ID

Q64036145

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Stieglitz Collections

A corresponding print was given to the following institution(s) by Alfred Stieglitz during his lifetime, or was received or acquired from the estate:

National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Ph-166 (inscribed: Equivalents 1926)

Other Collections

A print corresponding with this photograph can also be found in the following collection(s):

The Sir Elton John Photography Collection

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