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Stieglitz Letters To Mumford To Be Auctioned Share This on LinkedIn   Share This on Google   Tweet This   Forward This

11 October 2017

An archive of over 50 letters from Alfred Stieglitz to noted writer and critic Lewis Mumford will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction. The archive consisting almost entirely of handwritten letters, most signed "Stieglitz," dating from 1925 to 1946, comprising over 100 pages.

Stieglitz Letters. Signature with an apology for the 'scrawl'.

"This archive of Stieglitz's letters offers profound insight into both his life and Georgia O'Keeffe's and represents a remarkable correspondence between influential figures in the modernist movement," said Bobby Livingston, executive vice-president at RR Auction.

In the letters, Stieglitz writes about his wife Georgia O'Keeffe; touches upon his journal Camera Work; discusses what's going on at his galleries, the Intimate Gallery ("the Room," open from 1925 to 1929) and An American Place ("the Place," open from 1929 until his death in 1946); and compliments Mumford on his work.

In overall fine condition, with occasional edge tears, light toning and general handling wear; one of the earliest letters has some paper loss to its lower edge, not affecting any of the text or signature condition.

The Fine Autographs and Artifacts from RR Auction began on Sept. 28 and will conclude today. More details can be found online.

Alfred Stieglitz Archive to Go Under Hammer

Photographer and modern art promoter (1864-1946), husband of Georgia O'Keeffe, who was instrumental over his fifty-year career in making photography an accepted art form.

BOSTON -- An archive of over 50 letters from Alfred Stieglitz to noted writer and critic Lewis Mumford will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction.

The archive consisting almost entirely of handwritten letters, most signed "Stieglitz," dating from 1925 to 1946, comprising over 100 pages.

Throughout the letters, Stieglitz frequently discusses his wife Georgia O'Keeffe; touches upon his famous journal Camera Work; discusses goings-on at his galleries, the Intimate Gallery ("the Room," open from 1925 to 1929) and An American Place ("the Place," open from 1929 until his death in 1946); and constantly compliments Mumford on his work. In overall fine condition, with occasional edge tears, light toning and general handling wear; one of the earliest letters has some paper loss to its lower edge, not affecting any of the text or signature condition.

Introduced by mutual friend Paul Rosenfeld in 1924, Stieglitz and Mumford forged a lasting friendship and exchanged frequent correspondence over the next two decades.

In the book Mumford on Modern Art in the 1930s, Robert Mumford writes that Stieglitz encouraged Lewis Mumford to "expand his outlook on modernism and the role that American artists were to play in its evolution."

"This archive of Stieglitz's letters offers profound insight into both his life and Georgia O'Keeffe's and represents a remarkable correspondence between influential figures in the modernist movement," said Bobby Livingston, executive VP at RR Auction.

Some highlights from the letters:

Sept. 10, 1925: "I do not remember exactly what O'Keeffes I sent you -- but I'm sending you under separate cover a few more prints which were recently 'salvaged.' May be you'd prefer one of those. You'll have to make your own selection. -- It is difficult to say which are the 'important' O'Keeffes -- particularly when translated into black & white. As for my own photographs I feel that they would miscarry in reproduction unless there were quite a few."

March 3, 1927: "You have certainly taken our breath away.

It's a magnificent essay. Clear and new. You have touched something that has not before been said not only of Georgia but of America. It is an invaluable contribution. The title in itself is a master stroke. Brilliant."

July 7, 1928: "I finally am going to let the Metropolitan Museum have about 20 prints as a starter. -- The Museum has been after me for years. -- So Photography is to be recognized -- the doors opened -- by the august body.

My eyes have been on a rampage too -- so I have done no reading. Several books are due -- a Joyce -- a Lawrence amongst them. -- Do you know quite a bit of pressure has been brought to bear upon me to give Lawrence a show in The Room. He has done a lot of painting."

Aug. 28, 1929: "When I came up here I burnt up tons of stuff -- photographs & books & magazines. It was a wonder I didn't burn up the house! -- The cameras came near going. Seven weeks of packing in The Room! Good stuff buried alive -- & so much useless stuff in storage -- eating up money which might feed hungry mouths. This country ever in my mind. The artists. Their stupidity. Even those close to me."

Oct. 25, 1929: "O'Keeffe is in great shape & has painted several things -- one I believe a very grand affair in yellow & red -- autumn leaves. And another very fine one -- a tree in New Mexico -- a white tree."

July 10, 1933: "Four years ago the complete set of Camera Work I had had up here for years I offered to the Evening Star. It was a wonderful sight to watch the volumes burn. As you know books burn slowly.

What a continuous heartache Camera Work represented & what blood was spilled over each issue fighting printers & fighting engravers -- fighting paper dealers & paper manufacturers -- fighting ink manufacturers & binders -- fighting those who did the packing -- fighting the post office -- every step I controlled personally."

April 22, 1935: "Good, very good, that you intend writing about the 'American Section' at the Metropolitan. It's a real disgrace -- It's ungodly. Even worse than the Whitney. And that is a mouthful."

Aug. 10, 1935: "The University of Minnesota has gotten its O'Keeffe

There has been no wire pulling -- no politics -- no game of any kind. -- Quite an extraordinary experience from every angle. A very beautiful one -- and a very significant one -- I think I told you about Lloyd Wright's advising them to start with the right thing -- an O'Keeffe. They had had in mind -- Benton, Curry or Grant Wood!!"

Oct. 15, 1935: "Camera Work has gone off to you in 4 packages by parcel post.

As for the missing Plates they were not torn out of the books but were never put into those copies. You see many of the gravures were tipped in my hand (by me) after the numbers had been printed & bound. And I only completed the number of copies as were subscribed for."

March 30, 1938: "I have been having a very grand time reading every word of 'The Culture of Cities.' What a book. How alive. What a picture. Series of endless yet complete pictures. I do want you to know what a wonderful treat you have prepared for me. You have produced a masterpiece."

Feb. 5, 1939: "The Place keeps me madly busy. -- O'Keeffe shows always do."

Dec. 31, 1939: "How good too of you to remember that to-morrow is my birthday. I believe it is rather indecent for one to tarry so long. -- Really I believe that.

Overstaying one's time doesn't seem quite right from an aesthetic point of view. -- That is from the point of view of the beautiful."

March 30, 1943: "The Dove show was grand. So was the Marin. The O'Keeffe is now up. It is very lovely. Severe & lovely. -- The Place is visited by but few. It has a tomblike feeling to me."

Feb. 25, 1944: "Too bad you can't see the new O'Keeffes. They are an extraordinary lot. A new note. Very uplifting. -- A new world -- So it is felt by nearly all who come. And so far about 2000 have come."

May 16, 1946: "If you can find a moment drop in at the Museum of Modern Art & see the O'Keeffes. I think it would be a revelation to you the feel of it all. Sweeney has done a grand job. -- I have had nothing to do with it. The Place is very quiet -- a tomblike stillness much of the time."

The Fine Autographs and Artifacts from RR Auction began on Sept. 28 and will conclude on Oct. 11. More details can be found online at http://www.rrauction.com.


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