On the Ferry Boat

1902, printed 1929/1932

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

This is a photograph showing a crowded view from a platform, looking across water towards an industrial shoreline. In the foreground, there are silhouetted figures standing closely together. To the left, a horse and carriage are partially visible. The background displays a harbor with boats on the water, and smokestacks emitting dark smoke into the sky. The factory buildings enhance the industrial atmosphere. The image has a monochromatic tone.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 9.2 × 11.8 cm (3 5/8 × 4 5/8 in.)
    mat: 36.7 × 28.8 cm (14 7/16 × 11 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.271

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    125C

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    281

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. 281.

Inscriptions

by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, lower left verso, in graphite: 125 C

Wikidata ID

Q64034781

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

Stieglitz probably made this photograph on the East 34th Street Ferry as it traveled from Manhattan to Long Island City.

Other Collections

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

Location unknown

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:

1902, London (no. 76, as On the Ferry Boat)

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