New York from the Shelton

1935

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image displays an urban landscape captured from a slightly elevated perspective. Tall skyscrapers are seen in the distance, dominating the skyline. Closest to the viewer are lower rooftops casting sharp shadows in patches of sunlight. The play of light and shadow creates a stark division of tones across the image. The cityscape is rich with architectural details and varying building heights, leading the eye toward the skyscrapers. The color palette is monochromatic, highlighting the geometric forms and textures of the urban environment.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 24.4 x 19.2 cm (9 5/8 x 7 9/16 in.)
    mount: 52.7 x 39.5 cm (20 3/4 x 15 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.1253

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    4A

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    1566

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

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

2001

  • Modern Art and America: Alfred Stieglitz and His New York Galleries, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2001

Bibliography

1983

  • Greenough, Sarah, and Juan Hamilton. Alfred Stieglitz: Photographs and Writings. Washington, 1983: no. 169, pl. 73.

2000

  • Modern Art and America: Alfred Stieglitz and His New York Galleries. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2001: no. 191.

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 2, cat. 1566.

Inscriptions

by Georgia O'Keeffe, on mount, lower left verso, in graphite: 4A

Wikidata ID

Q64036811

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

The identical patterns of the window shades on the Newsweek Building suggest that this photograph and Key Set number 1565 were made the same day. The progression of the shadows indicates that Key Set number 1565 was taken first.

For more information about this photograph, see Key Set number 1564.

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:

The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 56.1950

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