Songs of the Sky or Equivalent 1923 - 1929

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, titled "Songs of the Sky," using gelatin silver. This image isn't just a pretty picture of clouds; it’s a statement about the status of photography as art in the early 20th century. Stieglitz was a key figure in the Photo-Secession movement, which fought to have photography recognized alongside painting and sculpture in American art institutions. Made in America, the image abandons traditional subject matter, like portraits or landscapes, for something abstract. Stieglitz wanted to prove that photography could express emotions and ideas just as powerfully as any painting. This was at a time when photography was often seen as a purely mechanical process, not requiring artistic skill. By focusing on something as intangible as the sky, he challenged these assumptions. To understand Stieglitz better, you might explore Photo-Secession manifestos or reviews of his exhibitions, discovering how he and his peers reshaped the art world. This photograph reminds us that art history involves understanding the battles fought for artistic recognition.