Songs of the Sky or Equivalent

1923/1927

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows a view looking upwards toward a cloudy sky. The horizon is not visible. The entire perspective focuses on the sky and clouds. In the distance, a diffused light source is attempting to penetrate through the thick cluster of dark, stormy clouds, which occupy the majority of the composition. These clouds vary in density and shades of grey, creating intricate patterns and layers that hint at the movement and depth of the sky. The color palette is moody and monochromatic, dominated by greyscale tones ranging from near black to lighter greys and whites, emphasizing the overcast atmosphere. There is no clear delineation of brushstrokes, suggesting that this may be a photographic capture.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 9.2 x 11.8 cm (3 5/8 x 4 5/8 in.)
    mount: 34.2 x 27.6 cm (13 7/16 x 10 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.1180

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    143E

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    961

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.

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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. 961.

Inscriptions

by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, upper left verso, in graphite: 143E

Wikidata ID

Q64036642

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

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