Songs of the Sky A4

1923

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image is a black and white photograph taken from a low angle, looking up towards the sky with dramatic cloud formations. The photograph lacks a visible horizon line, focusing solely on the cloud patterns above. The clouds appear dense and textured, with varied shades from deep blacks to lighter greys, creating contrast. The light source, likely the sun, is diffused behind the clouds, producing a subtle glow on the right side. The monochromatic color palette enhances the visual impact, emphasizing the play of light and shadows within the clouds, which appear almost like a tapestry across the sky.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 9.1 x 11.6 cm (3 9/16 x 4 9/16 in.)
    sheet: 10.2 x 12.7 cm (4 x 5 in.)
    mount: 34.2 x 27.5 cm (13 7/16 x 10 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.848

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    156A

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    892

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. 892.

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: A4 [4 in subscript]
by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 156-A

Wikidata ID

Q64035891

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:

Library of Congress, Washington, PH-25 A

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