Songs of the Sky and Trees

1923

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image features a large tree leaning diagonally across the composition, with a view upwards towards the sky. The horizon line is not visible, with the tree and the sky dominating the perspective. The tree is silhouetted against the sky, with intricate branches and leaves forming a textured pattern. The sky is filled with large, billowy clouds that appear softly blurred. The color palette is monochromatic, focusing on shades of black, white, and gray. The contrast between the dark tree silhouette and the lighter sky and clouds creates a visually impactful scene.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 11.7 x 8.7 cm (4 5/8 x 3 7/16 in.)
    sheet: 12.6 x 10.2 cm (4 15/16 x 4 in.)
    mount: 34.3 x 27.7 cm (13 1/2 x 10 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.907

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    223D

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    887

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. 887.

Inscriptions

by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 223D

Wikidata ID

Q64036026

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

The title and date are based on similarities of subject matter and composition to Key Set numbers 876–881. Further, the mounting materials are consistent with those used by Stieglitz in 1923.

Other Collections

A print corresponding with this photograph can also be found in the following collection(s):

Location unknown

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