Songs of the Sky or Equivalent

1923/1929

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image displays a close-up view of a sky full of dark, swirling clouds. There is no visible horizon, as the entire frame is dominated by these dense clouds. The painting style features broad, sweeping brushstrokes, creating a dynamic feel. The color palette is mainly monochrome, with shades of grey and deep black, highlighted by lighter areas. The interplay of light and dark adds depth and intensity to the clouds. In the distance, shadows and highlights blend, emphasizing the clouds' voluminous appearance.

Media Options

This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 9.1 × 11.7 cm (3 9/16 × 4 5/8 in.)
    mount: 34.1 x 27.2 cm (13 7/16 x 10 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.1027

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    142D

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    964

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

Curious for more Alfred Stieglitz scholarship?

Discover over 1,000 artworks that the artist’s wife Georgia O’Keeffe termed his “Key Set” of prize photographs. Museum scholars have illuminated each work, his career, practices, and lifetime achievements.

Learn about the Key Set

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. 964.

Inscriptions

by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 142D

Wikidata ID

Q64036297

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Related Key Set Photographs

You may be interested in

Loading Results