Alfred Stieglitz

flush-mounted, mounted again to gray board, credit and annotations in pencil on the reverse, 1922; accompanied by the original overmat, signed, dated, and annotated 'clouds - music - no. 7' in pencil (Greenough 798) (2)

The photographer to Dorothy Norman

Gift of Dorothy Norman to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1970

Sotheby's New York, 6 April 2013, Sale 8979, Lot 56

Paris, Musée d'Orsay, Alfred Stieglitz and his Circle: Modernity in New York, 1905-1930, October 2004 - January 2005, and traveling thereafter to:

Madrid, Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofia, February - May 2005

This early print is flush-mounted, and mounted again to gray board. The print has a very faint surface sheen, and was possibly coated. The upper corners of the image appear somewhat more matte-surface where the print may not have been fully coated. It is in generally excellent condition. When the print is examined closely in raking light, the following are visible: occasional small deposits of the photographer's original retouching in the upper sky; 2 pen-point-sized impressions in the lower right corner that do not appear to break the emulsion; and a fingerprint and 2 small matte deposits of indeterminate nature also in the lower right corner. The tip of the lower right margin corner is slightly creased. There is minor wear and miniscule chipping at the print's edges. There is a thin layer of excess dry-mounting tissue at the print's periphery. These issues are all unobtrusive. The secondary mount is worn at the periphery and the corners are rounded. There are 3 tears (measuring between ½-inch and 2½-inch) along the upper and right edges of the mount. There is light soiling from handling and stray graphite marks primarily at the print's periphery and edges of the mount. There is yellowed adhesive residue above the upper left corner of the print and along the upper edge of the mount. The reverse of the mount is lightly soiled and there are abrasions to the upper paper-ply. The following is written in an unidentified hand in pencil on the reverse: 'Risenfeld'; 'clouds - music - no. 7'; 'Stieglitz, Alfred / American / 1864-1946'; and '18x22¼.'
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Sarah Greenough locates only two other prints of this image: one in the key set at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.; and a second print in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  It is believed that the present photograph is the only print of this image that is signed and inscribed by Stieglitz.