Songs of the Sky or Equivalent 1923 - 1929

Alfred Stieglitz created this gelatin silver print, "Songs of the Sky," in the early 20th century. It's part of a series that aimed to capture pure emotion through depictions of clouds, what he called 'equivalents.' Stieglitz was a key figure in promoting photography as a fine art in the United States. His work challenged the established art institutions, which at the time favored painting and sculpture. "Songs of the Sky" reflects a broader cultural shift towards abstraction and a focus on subjective experience. Made in a time of rapid industrialization, it offered an escape into nature, a space untouched by the modern world. Stieglitz’s gallery, 291, was a hub for avant-garde art, and his own photography was at the heart of his mission to critique the conservative art establishment. Understanding the social and institutional context of Stieglitz's photography requires looking at exhibition records, critical reviews, and his own writings. Only then can we fully appreciate the radical nature of his project.