Excavating, New York

1911, printed 1929/1932

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

This is a photograph of a construction scene involving horse-drawn wagons and machinery. The image shows a team of horses harnessed to a wooden wagon in the foreground, prepared for transporting materials. Behind the wagon, an early steam-powered excavator can be seen in operation, with its bucket poised to either collect or deposit earth. The setting suggests a construction site, with visible dirt and the steam from the machinery indicating industrial activity. In the background, a large brick wall forms part of the backdrop. Overall, the photograph portrays a moment from a historical construction environment where traditional horse power is being integrated with the burgeoning use of steam-powered equipment.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 9.5 x 11.8 cm (3 3/4 x 4 5/8 in.)
    sheet: 10.1 x 12.6 cm (4 x 4 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.324

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    126C

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    354

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. 354.

Inscriptions

by later hand, on mount, lower left verso, in graphite: 126 C

Wikidata ID

Q64034836

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:

George Eastman Museum, Rochester, 74:0052:0038

Other Collections

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

Location unknown (inscribed: Alfred Stieglitz / Excavating, New York / 1911 / To Edward Dahlberg)

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