Highlights of the Key Set

Below are some highlights from the Alfred Stieglitz Key Set.

  • A woman with light skin wearing a long, corseted dress with a full skirt and a wide-brimmed, feathered hat sits writing or drawing at a round table next to an open window in this vertical, black and white photograph. Light coming in through the window to our left creates slanting stripes of light and shadow across the table and the wall opposite us, suggesting it filters through blinds or slats. The woman sits in a straight-backed, wooden chair with a caned back. We see the curve of her cheek and the tip of her nose as she bends slightly over the paper and pen. Her hair is pulled back in a bun at the back of her head under the hat, and her dark dress has a wide lace collar. The table is covered with a patterned cloth and holds a tall candlestick with a twisted candle, an ink bottle, a small, lidded jar, and a picture of a woman in a frame decorated with daisies. On the wall opposite us, six photographs or drawings hang on the wall. Two of them show landscapes, three show a woman or women, and one shows a man. Three heart-shaped decorations tied with bows hang among the other papers and a bird cage hangs to our right. The wallpaper has a dense, brocade-like floral pattern. The windowpanes swing into the room to our left, and a sliver of an open doorway lines the right edge. The top and bottom zones of the photograph are swallowed in deep shadow.
  • This sepia-toned photograph shows a woman in profile view, facing the right, sitting on the ground and working on a fishing net. She has fair skin, and her dark hair is neatly pulled back and covered by a white cap. She is wearing a dark dress with rolled-up sleeves, and she leans forward, looking at the net in her lap. In one hand, she holds a small, pointed tool. The setting is outdoors; she sits on flat, sandy ground with small clumps of grass, and the sky behind her is a plain gray-brown color.
  • The image shows a man from the waist up, seated and slightly leaning forward with his hands clasped. His facial features include a clean-shaven face with a direct gaze toward the camera, and he has sleek, combed-back hair. He is wearing a suit with a light-colored shirt and a dark bow tie. The man is seated in a wooden chair, and the background appears to be a softly blurred, light-toned, and patterned wall, suggesting an indoor setting.
  • This black-and-white photograph displays a nighttime cityscape from an elevated viewpoint. Buildings with illuminated windows are seen, lines of white laundry hanging between them. There is fog or mist creating a hazy glow around distant buildings. Windows and illuminated doorways provide the only light.
  • The image shows a close-up view of a person's face and hands. The person appears in a frontal position, with their head slightly tilted downward. Their facial features are soft and slightly blurred due to the photograph's focus; the eyes are cast downward, and the lips are almost closed. The person's hair is obscured by the angle and shadow. The individual is wearing a dark garment, holding it near their neck or chin with their left hand. The background is soft and out of focus, with faint light and shadow.
  • The image shows a close-up view of tree trunks with smooth, glossy bark marked by white horizontal lines. The trunks intersect to create a pattern of overlapping ovals. In the distance, there is a grassy landscape with the horizon subtly implied by the soft focus and tonal variations of the field. The image appears to be a black and white photograph with a dominant color palette of deep blacks and bright whites, along with varying shades of grey. The background features soft forms of leaves and branches, adding depth to the minimalist composition.
  • The image shows a small house covered in snow, viewed from an elevated position. The background consists of tree-covered hills, merging into a cloudy sky. A pole casts a shadow on the snowy roof. The color scheme is mainly white and grey, with snow and the house's wooden siding standing out. Snow-covered trees surround the house, with more trees and hills in the distance.
  • The image shows a cloudy sky viewed from below, with no visible horizon. The clouds are in shades of gray and black, suggesting a stormy or overcast atmosphere. They move diagonally across the composition, creating a sense of movement. The style emphasizes contrast and texture, highlighting the clouds' formations. The color palette is monochromatic, using deep shadows and illuminated areas to convey depth and intensity.
  • The image shows an upward view from a city street surrounded by tall skyscrapers with geometric patterns and art deco design elements. The buildings have varying shades of beige and gray and there is an unfinished building in the distance, as well as church spires. The sky above is in soft gray tones.

Browse the Key Set by Subject

The image shows a body of water with mountains in the distance. The point of view is elevated, capturing the shoreline and the water. A person leans towards a cow, holding its halter by the rocky shore. The horizon is high in the image, with the mountains forming a dark outline against the sky. The mountains appear as a soft silhouette due to the diffuse lighting. The image has a grainy and vintage texture. The color palette is monochromatic, with shades of gray and sepia. A small boat with figures is on the water, and a larger vessel is docked to the right.

Animals

The photograph depicts a cityscape viewed from above, likely from a high vantage point. The horizon is seen at the top of the buildings, highlighting their height. Five skyscrapers are lined up, casting shadows on each other and the structures below. The tallest building, situated slightly left of center, casts a long shadow to the right. The image is in black and white with high contrast, emphasizing architectural lines and shadow play. Smaller structures add depth to the cityscape in the distance, against a clear sky backdrop.

Architecture

The image shows a view of the sky filled with billowing clouds. A figure is sitting on power lines in the upper right portion of the image. The sky is dark with defined white and gray clouds. The scene is monochromatic, ranging from white to dark charcoal tones. The composition conveys a sense of vastness and isolation.

Clouds

The image depicts a woman sitting on the ground. She is turned slightly towards the camera, with her right arm resting on her bent knee. She has short, wavy dark hair, a soft facial expression, and is wearing a chunky sweater over a white skirt. Artist supplies such as a palette, an open book or sketchpad, and a glass of liquid are nearby. The background shows a pathway beside a brick structure partially covered by greenery, with plants growing next to where she is seated.

Georgia O'Keeffe

The image displays a weathered wooden barn in the center, surrounded by grass. The sky above has cumulus clouds. The barn has a rustic wooden texture, with a tree to the right casting shadows. The color palette is sepia, with brown tones in the wood, muted greens in the grass, and pale sky. In the distance, there are more trees.

Lake George

Landscape

The image displays an urban landscape seen from above. A bridge spans across the horizon, lined with buildings casting shadows on a river. A dense cluster of buildings with flat rooftops fills the majority of the scene, with varying heights creating a pattern. A taller building with chimneys emits smoke, blending into a grayish haze in the distance. The black and white rendering emphasizes light and shadow contrasts, giving the city a structured appearance. There is a smoky or foggy atmosphere, softening details in the distance.

New York City

The image depicts a man lying on a set of stone steps. He is reclined with his legs extended, one knee slightly bent, and his arms positioned behind his head, using his forearms as a pillow. The man has a full beard and mustache, and his hair is dark. He is dressed in a light-colored shirt, a dark suit jacket, and dark trousers. A dark flat cap is resting on his head at an angle. The surroundings include rustic steps and a textured stone wall, creating a classical, aged backdrop. The man is not holding any objects, and no jewelry is visible.

Portraits

The image shows a low angle view from the water's edge toward the sea, with a traditional sailboat on the sand. The horizon, where the ocean meets the sky, is visible in the upper section with waves breaking. The sailboat "Z.V.2" with its large sail leans to the left, and details like rigging and wooden structure are visible. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of gray, highlighting textures and contrasts of sea, sky, and boat. A reflection of the boat is seen on the wet sand, and clouds in the sky add texture.

Transportation

The image is captured from a low angle perspective along a tree-lined road. The horizon is faintly visible where the rows of trees meet the sky. Shadows of leafless trees stretch across the dirt path. The scene is in black and white, with a stark, linear pattern created by the shadows. The composition is dominated by various shades of gray and black. The sky is a lighter gray, highlighting the silhouettes of the barren trees. Close-up, the rough texture of the tree trunks is visible. In the distance, a horse-drawn carriage is seen on the road.

Trees

A Life's Work

See over 1,600 works of art from Stieglitz's lifetime donated to the National Gallery of Art by his wife, Georgia O'Keeffe.

Browse the Key Set