Songs of the Sky

1923

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows a view of the sky filled with dense, billowing clouds. There is no visible horizon. The clouds are depicted in grayscale, with various tones adding texture and depth. The light source, likely the sun, is partially obscured by the clouds, creating a soft glow. The clouds range in shades from soft whites to deep blacks. The composition forms a swirling pattern, giving a sense of movement.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 9.2 x 11.7 cm (3 5/8 x 4 5/8 in.)
    sheet: 9.8 x 12.1 cm (3 7/8 x 4 3/4 in.)
    mount: 34.2 x 27.5 cm (13 7/16 x 10 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.840

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    162D

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    927

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. 927.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, on mount, upper center verso, in graphite: Top; center left verso: Songs of the Sky / 1923
by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso in graphite: 162D

Wikidata ID

Q64035873

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:

The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 31.1950 (oriented 180°)

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