Alfred Steiglitz
“In 1899 Alfred Stieglitz wrote that photographs
of ordinary subjects could have "a permanent
value" as art. Countless photography
exhibitions and publications have since proved
his point.” ~ from Kodak Website
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer

Alfred Stieglitz was born
in Hoboken, New Jersey
but spent most of his
formative years in
Germany and continental
Europe before returning
to the U.S.
~ “The Steerage” 1907
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer


At nine years of age he had his
first exposure to photography
and was captivated ever since.
Alfred pursued studies of
engineering at the Technishe
Hoschule in Germany. It was
here that Alfred learned more
about photography with a
course on photochemistry.
~ From the Sheraton, New York
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer

He drew knowledge from
the photography journals
of that time, such as the
English journal “The
Amateur Photographer”
and inspiration from the
painters in Europe who
were breaking out of the
mold of traditional styles.
~The Edge of the Woods at MontsGirard, 1854
Pierre-Étienne-Théodore Rousseau
(French, 1812–1867)
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer

He led the Photo-Secession-an
attempt to break away from the
traditional view of art-and started the
journal, “Camera Works” which
documented events and news about
the upcoming artists. Alfred is most
known for his gallery in New York,
“The Little Galleries of the PhotoSecession” which would be known
simply as “291” for its street location.
Two Towers -- New York, 1911,
photogravure
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.,
Alfred Stieglitz Collection
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer
Stieglitz brought new American
artists to the public eye for the first
time. Also, he exhibited famous
European painters for the first time
in the U.S., such as Auguste Rodin,
Paul Cezanne, and Henri Matisse.
~Henri Matisse Color Lithograph
La Danse
Published by Revue Verve, 1938
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer

It wasn’t until after the gallery closed (1917)
after several years of success that Alfred
could continue creating his own photographs.
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer

His first photographs were of simple subjects,
common people and places. His later work
would be in stark contrast with an eclectic
mix of everything from city skyscrapers, to
erotic photos of his lover and second wife,
Georgia O’Keefe, to serine pictures of the
Dutch and their everyday habits.
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer

With Steiglitz’s later photographs, we can see
that his style becomes even deeper in
emotional interpretation, but he retains his
original ideas and passion for photography.
~ “Equivalent”, 1930
Alfred Stielglitz~Photographer

Throughout, he sought
to bring expression
through his work and
photographed subjects
that had meaning to
him.
~ “Hands and Thimble”, 1920