Songs of the Sky

1923

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows a night sky with the moon being the central focus, partially hidden by swirling dark clouds. There is no visible horizon, emphasizing the celestial elements. The clouds are depicted in shades of gray and black, creating a textured pattern. The brush-like strokes suggest movement in the clouds against the moonlight. The color palette is monochromatic, with a contrast between the moon's glow and the shadows of the clouds, creating a moody atmosphere.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 11.5 x 9 cm (4 1/2 x 3 9/16 in.)
    mount: 34.2 x 27.3 cm (13 7/16 x 10 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.1146

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    162B

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    942

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. 942.

Inscriptions

by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 162B; lower right verso: 162B / 21 [in square, erased]

Wikidata ID

Q64036568

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

This photograph and Key Set number 943 are made from the same negative, but have different Stieglitz Estate numbers.

Stieglitz Collections

A corresponding print was given to the following institution(s) by Alfred Stieglitz during his lifetime, or was received or acquired from the estate:

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 24.1733.4 (inscribed: Song of the Sky / (in five pictures) / no. 4 / photograph made by / Alfred Stieglitz / New York / Negative & Print / made at Lake George, N.Y. / by Alfred Stieglitz / 1923 / Print 2 from this negative)

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