Alfred Stieglitz and 291

[Alfred Stieglitz], ca. 1907 / Alvin Langdon Coburn, photographer.
1 photographic print : b&w ; 36 x 28 cm. Miscellaneous photograph
collection. Archives of American Art.

Alfred Stieglitz´s Photo-Secession gallery at 291 Fifth Avenue,
New York opened 1905 and existed until 1917 as a major force
to promote photography, painted art and sculpture to a sometimes
not too impressed audience. Here is what a critic wrote about
Pablo Picasso the Spanish painter who was introduced for the first
time in USA at "291":

"Any sane criticism is entirely out of the question; any serious
analysis would be vain. The results suggest the most violent wards
of an asylum for maniacs, the craziest emanations of a disordered
mind, the gibberings of a lunatic!”/Arthur Hoeber in the New York Globe

Other artists seen at "291" were Matisse, Cezanne and Rodin.
Stieglitz had good help from his associate Edward Steichen who
often travelled to Europe.

There is a lot of interesting stuff to be found on the net about 291
and Stieglitz. I recommend:
- Alfred Stieglitz and Gallery 291 A Modern Art Revolution Before the
Armory Show by Brooke Schieb
- Alfred Stieglitz and his New York Galleries From National Gallery of Art
- Alfred Stieglitz from Masters of Photography
- Documentary about Stieglitz made by PBS (American Masters)

Alfred Stieglitz
Winter on Fifth Avenue, New York
1893

scan courtesy of Masters of Photography