Sun Rays—Paula, Berlin - Alfred Stieglitz

Alfred Stieglitz Collection

American Art Modern Art Photographs Prints

"Sun Rays—Paula, Berlin" by Alfred Stieglitz (1889, printed 1920/39) Gelatin silver print.

Commentary

"Sun Rays—Paula, Berlin" by Alfred Stieglitz (1889, printed 1920/39) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. The photographic process puts light and timing at the center, so subtle shifts in tone carry much of the mood. Theme s to notice include Pictorialism, gelatin silver (developing-out-paper) pr. This piece is held in the source collection's Photography and Media collection. Alfred Stieglitz is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Alfred Stieglitz American, 1864–1946. The work is cataloged within a United States cultural context. It is associated with the Pictorialism period. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as gelatin silver (developing-out-paper) pr, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Gelatin silver print) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (Image/paper: 22.7 × 16.9 cm (8 15/16 × 6 11/16 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include Pictorialism, gelatin silver (developing-out-paper) pr. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/66284

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data