The Steerage

1907, printed 1915

Alfred Stieglitz

Associated Names
Alfred Stieglitz

Artist, American, 1864 - 1946

The image shows individuals on a ship's deck. The deck is divided by a railing with ropes, and the upper levels show people leaning and observing. The ship's architecture, with a large structure cutting diagonally across the image and a ladder on the right side, suggests a strong maritime vessel. Various clothing styles are visible, indicating a diverse group ranging from well-dressed to simpler attire. The lighting is soft, creating a subdued yet distinct atmosphere, and the composition feels bustling with people engaged in various activities or conversations.

Media Options

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On View

West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G28

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    photogravure

  • Credit Line

    Alfred Stieglitz Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 33.3 x 26.6 cm (13 1/8 x 10 1/2 in.)
    sheet: 40.5 x 28.2 cm (15 15/16 x 11 1/8 in.)
    mount: 50.7 x 38.7 cm (19 15/16 x 15 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.3.293

  • Volume Title

    291, nos. 7-8 (September-October 1915)

  • Stieglitz Estate Number

    125D

    Part of Stieglitz Key Set Online Edition

    Learn more

  • Key Set Number

    313

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

1992

  • Stieglitz in the Darkroom, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, October 4, 1992–February 14, 1993

Bibliography

2002

  • Greenough, Sarah. Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set: The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs. Washington, 2002: vol. 1, cat. 313.

Inscriptions

by Alfred Stieglitz, lower left, in graphite: The Steerage 1907 / Alfred Stieglitz; on mount: lower left verso, on An American Place label, in black ink: The Steerage—1907 (original gravure) / by Alfred Stieglitz
by later hands, on mount, lower right, in graphite: Alfred Stieglitz / The Steerage / 1907 / (Large photogravure); lower center, in graphite: Bry # 125 D; lower right, in graphite: 14 x 10 7/8 / 3 / 3 1/2 6 / 20 1/2 x 16 7/8 / 067; lower left verso, in graphite: 125 D

Wikidata ID

Q64034803

Scholarly Remarks and Key Set Data

Remarks

This gravure, published as an insert in the deluxe edition of the September–October 1915 issue of 291, was also available in a regular edition, printed on a moderately thick wove Japan paper.

For more information about this photograph, see Key Set number 310.

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 Art Institute of Chicago, 1949.847 (inscribed: Stieglitz—1907, “The Steerage”)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 49.55.13

National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Ph-178

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1949-18-50

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