Alfred Stieglitz
Scotty Thomlison
“Photography is my passion. The search for truth my obsession.“
-Alfred Stieglitz
S

Biography
S Born January 1, 1864 in Hoboken New Jersey
S 1881 moved to Germany to Study
S While in college, he met various artists and photographers and became very
interested.
S He enrolled in a chemistry class taught by Hermann Wilhelm Vogel, a well
known pioneer of the science of photography.
S A short time later, Alfred bought his first camera and began to tour the
European countryside taking pictures of nature, landscape and peasants.
He married Georgia O’Keefe, and created a very famous photograph of her.
S
In 1902, he joined the camera club, “Photo Secession” and he also founded
S
a photography journal, Camera Work.

Photographs

Influences
S Many things and artists were influences in Alfred
Stieglitz’s work. Such include:
S Edward Steichen influenced him when they closely
worked together in New York at the “Photo Secession”.
S The various styles of: German fin-de-siecle, Japanese
woodblock, symbolist and, cubist were seen in his
photographs.
S Alfred Stieglitz has influenced many amateur and
professional photographers and his style can be seen in
many of their works. One of which is Ansel Adams, to
whom he was a mentor.

My Critical Analysis
S -Photo of Venice (Slide 3)
S This a great photo that follows all the common rules of
photography. I like how it is taken at an angle and is not
directly looking up the canal. Instead it forms an
interesting angle. Also, the reflections on the water are
very intriguing. They are vivid, and reflects the thought
that he put into this photograph. Along with the
reflections, there is good contrast in the lights and darks.

Professional Critical Analysis
S In a review by Sarah Boxer of the New York Times she
said many things about Alfred Stieglitz’s work. Including:
S “Stieglitz always pressed his pictures to represent
something beyond themselves -- to be evocations of
Painting, symbols of Progress, portraits of
Woman, equivalents of Feelings, snapshots of God.”- Sarah
Boxer
S “The old photographer never reformed, never stopped
mimicking paintings. What changed were the paintings he
was emulating”- Sarah Boxer
S “Many of his images seemed to stand for something beyond
themselves.”- Sarah boxer

Bibliography
S Boxer, Sarah. \"PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW; The Evolution of Alfred
Stieglitz, Ever the Perfectionist.\" New York Times 2 Aug. 2002. 13 Mar.
2009
<http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02E6DC103BF931
A3575BC0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2>.
S Zilczer, Judith. \"Stieglitz, Alfred.\" 27 Sept. 1999. Oxford Art Online. 11
Mar. 2009
<http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T081415?
q=Alfred+Stieglitz&search=quick&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit>.
S Clarke, Graham. Alfred Stieglitz. London;New York: Phaidon, 2006.
S \"Collection of Alfred Stieglitz's Photographs.\" Oxford Art Online. Grove
Art Online. 12 Mar. 2009
<http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/search_results?type=imag
e&search=quick&q=Alfred+Stieglitz&button_search.x=24&button_sear
ch.y=11&button_search=search>.