Songs of the Sky or Equivalent

1923/1929

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows an upward view of the sky featuring an array of clouds. There is no visible horizon in the picture. The clouds display different densities, creating depth and contrast against the dark sky. The scene is in grayscale, with various shades of whites, greys, and blacks. The tones emphasize the textures and fluidity of the clouds, suggesting movement across the sky. Clouds closer to the viewer are fuller and more detailed, while those in the distance appear more dispersed with fainter outlines.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 9.3 x 11.8 cm (3 11/16 x 4 5/8 in.)
    mount: 34.2 x 27.7 cm (13 7/16 x 10 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.1019

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    147E

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    984

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. 984.

Inscriptions

by later hand, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 147-E

Wikidata ID

Q64036285

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