Alfred Stieglitz
(Hoboken, New Jersey, 1864 - 1946)
The Steerage
1907 (printed 1915)
Photogravure on Japanese tissue
13 1/8 x 10 1/2 in. (33.3 x 26.7 cm)
Collection of the Akron Art Museum
Museum Acquisition Fund
1978.25
More Information
Stieglitz considered 'The Steerage' the finest photograph of his career. This famous scene depicts the passengers of a transatlantic ship's steerage compartment, that portion of the ship used by people who could not afford cabins. The image has become a symbol of the influx of immigrants who came to America seeking a better life, but the ship was actually Eastbound for Europe when this photograph was taken.
Keywords
PhotographyPhotogravure
Traveler
Boat
Social Class
Crowd
Documentary