Songs of the Sky A3

1923

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image captures cloud formations in the sky. A dark silhouette of a treeline is subtly indicated near the bottom left of the frame. The clouds have dynamic textures, ranging from dense to wispy. The brushstroke-like texture adds depth, giving the clouds a sculptural feel. The color palette is monochromatic, with shades of gray from deep charcoal to bright silver highlights. The sun's illumination filters through some clouds, creating contrasting light and shadow.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 11.6 x 9.4 cm (4 9/16 x 3 11/16 in.)
    sheet: 12.6 x 10.1 cm (4 15/16 x 4 in.)
    mount: 34.2 x 27.5 cm (13 7/16 x 10 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.847

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    155E

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    891

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

Exhibition History

2010

  • Alfred Stieglitz: The Lake George Years, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2010

Bibliography

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 2, cat. 891.

2010

  • Annear, Judy, ed. Alfred Stieglitz: The Lake George Years. Exh. cat. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2010.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, on mount, lower left verso, in graphite: A3 [3 in subscript]
by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 155-E

Wikidata ID

Q64035889

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

For information about the date of this print, see Key Set number 890.

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 Art Institute of Chicago, 1949.795

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