Though he began his artistic career as a painter, training at the Académie Julian in Paris, Edward Steichen is also known for his role in revolutionizing photography from a commercial tool into an artistic medium.
Famed artist and gallerist Alfred Stieglitz often featured Steichen’s artwork in the magazine Camera Work, published from 1903 to 1917 as photography gained popularity. Over the years, Steichen served as the chief photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair as well as the Director of Photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Steichen’s dramatic, highly stylized compositions and curatorial eye catapulted photography into greater prestige. An art critic quipped in 1905: "One should not say that he recalls Rembrandt but rather, at this rate, that Rembrandt will, in time, remind us of Steichen."
As Steichen shifted his artistic focus to photography, he destroyed nearly all of his painted compositions. Beethoven represents one of the very few surviving paintings and is considered his most remarkable.
Simultaneously realistic and symbolic, Beethoven reflects Steichen’s unmistakable talent for composition, balance and hue. He completed the painting in 1902, immediately receiving critical praise for its commanding nature. Beethoven was hung prominently beside his photos at Steichen’s first solo show in June 1902 at La Maison des Artistes. The artwork was then proudly exhibited at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, and later at the "National Arts Club Special Exhibition of Contemporary Art" in 1908.
Find original Edward Steichen photography and other art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by M.S. Rau)
Edward Steichen – Fred Astaire, 1927 –
By Edward Steichen
Located in Cologne, DE
Edward Steichen – Fred Astaire, 1927 – This iconic portrait of legendary entertainer Fred Astaire was taken in 1927 by Edward Steichen, one of the most influential photographers of ...
Silver Gelatin
Three Pears and an Apple, France
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
Three Pears and an Apple, France, c. 1921: The Early Years 1900-1927, 1981 photogravure on BFK Rives Paper image size: 13 x 10 inches paper size: 20 x 15 1/4 inches Edition of 500
Photogravure
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Eugene ONeill
By Edward Steichen
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Silver gelatin print Provenance: General Electric Corporate Collection Heather James Fine Art
Silver Gelatin
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Improvisation: "George Washington"
By Edward Steichen
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Silver gelatin print Edition 78/100 Provenance: General Electric Corporate Collection Heather James Fine Art
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
George Washington Bridge, New York, 1931
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
Titled in ink with ‘Photograph by Steichen, 139 East 69th Street, New York City' studio stamp on the reverse of the accompanying paper mount
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
George Washington Bridge, New York, 1931
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
John Barrymore as Hamlet
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
Printed, signed late 90's by George Tice.
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Katherine Cornell
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
Printed, signed late 90's by George Tice.
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Martha Graham #4, NY
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Greta Garbo, Hollywood
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
In his autobiography, A Life in Photography, Steichen gave a vivid recount of this sitting: 'When Garbo came in to pose for the Vanity Fair photograph, I asked her to sit on the c...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Greta Garbo, Hollywood
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
In his autobiography, A Life in Photography, Steichen gave a vivid recount of this sitting: 'When Garbo came in to pose for the Vanity Fair photograph, I asked her to sit on the c...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
First Cast of Brancusi's "Bird in Space"
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Price Upon Request
Stieglitz and Kitty, New York, 1904
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Couple Sharing a Chair at Party - Romantic Couple Silver Gelatin Print
Located in Brighton, GB
Couple Sharing a Chair at Party - Romantic Couple Silver Gelatin Photograph An amorous couple embraces intensely at a party, almost catching the attention of nearby partygoers... Th...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$397
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Marilyn Candid Moment - Marilyn Monroe at Ambassador Hotel in New York City
By Ed Feingersh
Located in Brighton, GB
American actress Marilyn Monroe relaxes on the sofa of her suite at the Ambassador Hotel in New York whilst reading 'To the Actor: On the Technique of Acting', the classic guide to a...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Toilet / Fountain at Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich
By Andy Warhol
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This is a unique photograph was taken by Warhol in the bathroom at Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich. Toilets were a common subject of Warhol's photos. This photo is dated 'Mar 9 1982' (on...
Silver Gelatin
Paul Newman and Lee Marvin (Signed)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in New York, NY
Ed. 45/50, signed by Terry O'Neill. Includes black frame. Terry O’Neill CBE is one of the world’s most collected photographers with work hanging in national art galleries and privat...
Silver Gelatin
$2,796Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.5 in W 7.75 in
Robert Mapplethorpe, Rose with Smoke, from A Season in Hell, 1986 (after)
By Robert Mapplethorpe
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite photogravure after Robert Mapplethorpe (1946–1989), titled Rose with Smoke, from the folio A Season in Hell, originates from the 1986 edition published by The Limited ...
Photogravure
$3,489
H 35 in W 45 in
Elizabeth Taylor – Elstree Studios, England, Limited Estate Print Oversize
By David Steen
Located in London, GB
Elizabeth Taylor – Elstree Studios, England, Elizabeth Taylor’s jewellery collection was renowned as one of the greatest ever assembled. The ...
Silver Gelatin
$397
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Taylor in Fur - Elizabeth Taylor London Publicity Shot Paris Daily Express
Located in Brighton, GB
British-American film actress Elizabeth Taylor is photographed close-up at London Airport as she awaits to board a flight to Paris and then the United States of America. Her richly ...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$3,500
H 14 in W 11 in
Handcuffed, New York, 1978 Black and White Iconic Photograph, Signed, 14x11
By Leonard Freed
Located in New york, NY
For several years in the 1970s Leonard Freed worked alongside members of the New York police department, documenting the gritty reality of life on the beat...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Kate Moss at the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden, London
Located in New York, NY
Ed. of 25, unframed print with framing options available. Additional sizes available upon request. As one of Britain’s longest standing press photographers, Greg Brennan has captu...
Silver Gelatin
$397
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Spectre HQ - James Bond Thunderball Hollywood Movie Film Ken Adam Set Design
Located in Brighton, GB
A view of the vast and extensive film set of the James Bond film 'You Only Live Twice' (1966). The set was designed by Ken Adam and structured to represent the inside secret base o...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$1,674Sale Price|20% Off
H 20 in W 24 in
Daniel Craig Contact Sheet (Limited Edition of 25) - Celebrity Photography
Located in New York, NY
This is a 2002 contact sheet (a positive print of all the negative images from a roll of 35mm film or medium format film) of youthful-looking Daniel Craig...
Silver Gelatin
Chet Baker in Lucca - Jazz Trumpet Player Jazz Chet Baker Portrait
Located in Brighton, GB
American jazz trumpet player and singer Chet Baker harmonises on his trumpet whilst sitting on an open window ledge in his hotel room in Lucca, Italy. He wears jeans and a button-u...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Portrait of Alfred Stieglitz
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
This is a photogravure that came out of a 1930's Camera Works. They are high quality prints from the artist's negatives and were put together in these historic spiral bound books. ...
Photogravure
Charlie Chaplin, Hat Trick #1
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Charlie Chaplin, Hat Trick #3
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Steel-work of the George Washington Bridge
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Isadora Duncan at the Portal of the Parthenon, Athens, 1921
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Anna May Wong, 1930
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Charlie Chaplin, 1928
By Edward Steichen
Located in Westwood, NJ
These selenium toned silver gelatin prints are the photographs of Edward Steichen, printed by the renowned photographer George Tice. Tice was the last person to print for Steichen i...
Silver Gelatin
Torso, Paris
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
Torso, Paris, 1902 : The Early Years Portfolio, 1901–1927 photogravure Image Size: 6 1/2 x 8 3/8 inches Paper Size: 20 x 16 inches Ediiton of 500
Photogravure
Heavy Roses
By Edward Steichen
Located in New York, NY
Heavy Roses, Voulangis, France, 1914 photogravure image size: 8 x 10 inches paper size: 20 x 15 1/4 inches Edition of 500
Photogravure
Wheelbarrow With Flower Pots
By Edward Steichen
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Silver gelatin print Edition 78/100 Provenance: General Electric Corporate Collection Heather James Fine Art
Sunday Night, 40th Street
By Edward Steichen
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Silver gelatin print Edition 78/100 Provenance: General Electric Corporate Collection Heather James Fine Art
Venerable Tree Trunk
By Edward Steichen
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Silver gelatin print Edition 78/100