Equivalent W3

1929

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image displays an abstract view of the sky with dramatic cloud formations. There is no visible horizon, as the composition is filled entirely with clouds. The textures within the clouds move diagonally across the frame, suggesting movement and depth, with areas of light breaking through the darkness. The color palette is monochromatic, dominated by shades of black and gray, with hints of white. The interaction between light and shadow creates a dynamic effect.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 11.9 x 9.1 cm (4 11/16 x 3 9/16 in.)
    mount: 34.8 x 27.5 cm (13 11/16 x 10 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.1052

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    147A

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    1279

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

1983

  • Photographs by Alfred Stieglitz, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, February 3–May 8, 1983; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, June 17–August 14, 1983; The Art Institute of Chicago, October 18, 1983–January 3, 1984

Bibliography

1983

  • Greenough, Sarah, and Juan Hamilton. Alfred Stieglitz: Photographs and Writings. Washington, 1983: no. 143, pl. 65.

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 2, cat. 1279.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, on mount, lower left verso, in graphite: W3 [3 in subscript]
by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite, underlined: 147-A
by later hand, on mount, lower right verso, in graphite: D

Wikidata ID

Q64036354

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

See Key Set number 1282, made from the same negative.

Other Collections

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

Location unknown

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