Songs of the Sky or Equivalent 1923 - 1929

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, one of his series "Songs of the Sky," using gelatin silver print. During the early 20th century, when Stieglitz was active in the United States, photography fought for recognition as a fine art, not just a tool for documentation. Stieglitz's cloud studies were crucial in that struggle. He called them "equivalents," suggesting these abstract images could express emotions and ideas, just like painting or sculpture. Stieglitz was deeply involved in promoting modern art through his gallery "291". With "Songs of the Sky," he wasn't just capturing clouds, but also challenging artistic conventions and the institutions that upheld them. He questioned what art could be and who decides its value. To fully understand Stieglitz, we can look at his writings, the history of photography, and the debates within the art world of his time, all resources to help us interpret his contribution to the history of art.