Songs of the Sky K3 or H3

probably 1923

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows dark clouds filling the sky with no visible horizon. The clouds are thick and dramatic, with lighter highlights along their edges. The contrast between the bright cloud edges and deep black sky creates a visually impactful scene. The color palette is monochrome with blacks and grays, creating a moody atmosphere.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 11.9 x 9.3 cm (4 11/16 x 3 11/16 in.)
    mount: 34.3 x 27.6 cm (13 1/2 x 10 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.883

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    163E

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    925

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

1958

  • Photographs by Alfred Stieglitz, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, March 16–April 27, 1958

Bibliography

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 2, cat. 925.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: Top 3 / K3 [3 in subscript]; center left verso: H3 / Top [3 in subscript]
by Georgia O'Keeffe, upper left verso, in graphite: 163E

Wikidata ID

Q64035971

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

The dates for this photograph and Key Set numbers 923 and 924 are based on the mounting materials and type of paper, which are similar to those of other prints dated 1923.

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