From My Window at An American Place, Southwest

April 1932

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image displays an urban cityscape seen from a high vantage point amidst several buildings. Closest to us are tall, darkly silhouetted structures on either side, framing the scene. On the right, a building with a water tower stands out, and on the left, another building partially reveals its facade. The horizon is obstructed by taller buildings, dominating the skyline. In the distance, a multi-story building under construction is visible, with cranes and scaffolding indicating its incomplete status. The color palette is mostly monochromatic, with deep grays and blacks creating a stark atmosphere. The overcast sky adds to the somber mood, with subtle variations in gray adding texture. The composition is balanced by the contrast between completed dark buildings near us and the unfinished structure in the distance.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 23.8 x 19 cm (9 3/8 x 7 1/2 in.)
    mount: 55.2 x 42.6 cm (21 3/4 x 16 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.1238

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    6A

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    1457

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

2004

  • Alfred Stieglitz and His Circle: 1905–1930, Musée d'Orsay, Paris; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, 2004–2005

Bibliography

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 2, cat. 1457.

Inscriptions

by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, lower left verso, in graphite: 6A
by later hands, on mount, upper center verso, in graphite: 14; center left verso: 22 / 16 7/8 x 22 1/4

Wikidata ID

Q64036779

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

For more information about this photograph, see Key Set number 1452.

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