The Village Philosopher

1894, printed 1895/1896

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows an elderly man in a side profile. He is seated, leaning forward slightly with his right elbow resting on a table, and his chin supported by his hand. The man's facial features are detailed, with a prominent nose, high cheekbones, and defined eyebrows. His hair is thinning and neatly cropped. He is wearing a striped shirt with the sleeves loosely gathered at the wrists, and a vest. An open book is on the table in front of him. The background features a softly lit room with a large window on the left side.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    platinum print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 18.2 × 14.9 cm (7 3/16 × 5 7/8 in.)
    page size: 34.8 × 27 cm (13 11/16 × 10 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.184

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    50D

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    202

Associated Artworks

See all 29 artworks
There is an image of a man from the mid-torso up. He is turned slightly to the side but gazes directly at the viewer. The man has a full, thick beard and mustache, with short, wavy light-colored hair. He wears a dark coat with a high collar, buttoned at the front. There is no visible jewelry or objects being held. The background is plain and dark.

Professor Vogel

Alfred Stieglitz

1886

This photograph depicts an old stone building facade. The structure has a central archway with a balcony above it, adorned with potted plants. Clotheslines with drying laundry are visible. The stone walls appear weathered and textured. A cobblestone pathway adds to the historic feel. Wooden beams support the structure above the archway.

A Nook in Pallanza

Alfred Stieglitz

1887

The image displays a sepia-toned scene by a lakeside where women in period clothing wash clothes. The perspective is from the shoreline, showing the activities near the water. The overcast sky blends into distant mountains, which dominate the background. A large sailboat and smaller wooden boats are docked at the shore, with a man carrying a basket onboard. In the distance, a group of people stands by railings extending into the lake, lined with trees. The image has a muted tone with grey-scale, highlighting the historical aspect. The water reflects the sky, contrasting against the rocky shore.

Washerwomen at Lake Como

Alfred Stieglitz

1887

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. 1, cat. 202.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, on interleaving tissue, upper right, in graphite: "The Village Philosopher"

Wikidata ID

Q64037751

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

This photograph and Key Set numbers 203, 204, and 205 were taken in Wilhelm Hasemann’s studio in Gutach.

For Stieglitz’s description of Gutach, see Key Set number 171.

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:

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, YCAL MSS 85, box 126, folder 2493 (inscribed: “The Village Philosopher” / Alfred Stieglitz 1894)

Other Collections

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

National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2006.3.1.14

Lifetime Exhibitions

A print from the same negative—perhaps a photograph from the Gallery’s collection—appeared in the following exhibition(s) during Alfred Stieglitz’s lifetime:

1899, New York (no. 20, as The Village Philosopher, 1894, platinum direct)

Lifetime Publications

A reproduction of this work appeared in the following publication(s) during Alfred Stieglitz’s lifetime:

Marmaduke Humphrey, “Triumphs in Amateur Photography,” Godey’s Magazine 135 (December 1897): 587 (ill., The Village Philosopher)

The American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times Almanac for 1901 (New York, 1900): 66 (ill., untitled)

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