Portrait—K.N.R., No. 4 or Songs of the Sky C4

1923

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows a tall tree with leafy branches reaching towards the sky. The perspective is tilted upwards, focusing on the tree's outline and texture against a cloudy sky. The photo is monochromatic, with shades of gray. The sky is filled with dense clouds, indicating an overcast day. The dark silhouette of the tree contrasts with the sky. The mood is serene, emphasizing the interplay between the tree's form and the sky.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 11.7 x 8.8 cm (4 5/8 x 3 7/16 in.)
    sheet: 12.6 x 10.1 cm (4 15/16 x 4 in.)
    mount: 34.4 x 27.6 cm (13 9/16 x 10 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.866

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    159B

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    879

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

2016

  • This Is a Portrait If I Say So: Reimagining Representation in American Art, 1912–Today, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, June 24–October 17, 2016

Bibliography

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 2, cat. 879.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, on mount, center left verso, in graphite: C4 [4 in subscript]
by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 159-B

Wikidata ID

Q64035932

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

For more information about this photograph, see Key Set number 876.

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:

1924, New York (nos. 14–19, as Portrait—K. N. R.)

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