Alfred Stieglitz: Masters of Photography Series

by Alfred Stieglitz (Photographer), Dorothy Norman (Essay )

Alfred Stieglitz was one of the most important cultural forces in twentieth-century America. As founder of the Photo Secession movement and editor of the influential Camera Work he eschewed the prevailing “artiness” of pictorialist photography, preferring clarity of vision and “crystallized awareness.” In galleries such as “291” and An American Place he showed and championed the work of modern artists from the US and Europe. As a photographer, editor, and gallery director Stieglitz was a powerful influence on photography and on American art in general.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Alfred Stieglitz was an American photographer and modern art promoter who was instrumental over his fifty-year career in making photography an accepted art form. In addition to his photography, Stieglitz is known for the New York art galleries that he ran in the early part of the 20th century, where he introduced many avant-garde European artists to the U.S. He was married to painter Georgia O'Keeffe.

Reviews

[Doriyan Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always had an appreciation for the mind of Steiglitz, particularly how he pushed the idea of “photography as a fine art” further. This book provides a nice introduction into both his artistic philosophy, directorial mindset, as well as his photography.

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have always lived Stieglitz’s work, but reading the essay here by Dorothy Norman has clarified why I’ve always identified with his work. Read it.

[Paula Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alfred Stieglitz fue un luchador en pos del reconocimiento de la fotografía como arte. Una fotografía, o un cuadro, colgado en una pared, "dice" cosas a quien lo contempla. Y lo mágico es que el mismo cuadro dice "diferentes cosas" a diferentes personas.

Realmente esto no es así, sino que son las personas las que vemos las cosas, las fotografías, con nuestro anterior bagage.
Nos resultan "arte" o "basura", nos hacen estremecernos o nos dejan indiferentes. Si nos enseñaran alguna de las fotos de Alfred Stieglitz sin saber de quién y de que época es, probablemente una gran mayoría diríamos aquello de "esta bien" o "del montón". Pero con su autor y su fecha, ya muchos de nosotros se abstendrían de efectuar tales comentarios. Hay quienes opinan que las fotos deben hablar por sí solas, sin más aditamentos. Pero es cierto también que un título, una fecha y un autor añaden más y aportan otra perspectiva. Reportaje de la vida misma. Situaciones y personas, de aquellos años. Nadie puede quedar impasible. El tiempo confiere un status especial a cualquier fotografía y la convierte en documento. Buena o mala fotografía, arte o no arte, pero documento.

Y ahora que está de moda despreciar lo viejo, lo antiguo, las fotos, amarilleando lentamente, nos dejan constancia de lo que fué y ya no está. Y aunque solo sea por ello, su autor merece nuestro reconocimiento.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to photographer Alfred Stieglitz, including a lengthy and well-written essay that helps one to understand the artist's perspective before viewing forty-one of his "most significant" photographs. I especially enjoyed some of his portraits and his work with clouds.