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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1966-May 1973

ARCH.2003.36, Rendition: 805493

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This image shows an open scrapbook page, likely from the early 1970s, devoted to the renowned photographer Edward Steichen and his work.

The page features three black-and-white photographs with accompanying descriptive text, all related to Steichen’s legacy and recent events surrounding his passing.


1. Top Left: “Steeple Chase Day — Paris, 1913”

  • A dynamic, somewhat grainy photograph capturing a lively scene, possibly a horse race or street celebration in Paris, with elegantly dressed women in period attire (long skirts, hats) walking or turning.
  • Caption: Identifies the photo as by Edward Steichen, part of the Fogg Museum’s collection, and notes it was on view in the museum’s Dept. of Prints and Photographs as of April 12–19, 1973.
  • A handwritten inscription below reads “HARVARD INDEPENDENT APRIL 12-19 1973” and “28-65” is printed in the corner of the photo.

2. Top Right: Portrait of Brancusi by Steichen (1922)

  • A close-up, intense portrait of the sculptor Constantin Brancusi — an older man with wild hair, a prominent white beard, and a serious, penetrating gaze.
  • Text below: Notes that this was taken by Steichen in 1922 to commemorate Steichen’s passing “suddenly last week, two days before his 94th birthday” — indicating the scrapbook was compiled shortly after Steichen’s death in March 1973.
  • Also mentions that Davis Pratt, Associate Curator of Photographs at the Fogg Museum, had visited Steichen and purchased three vintage prints — including this one — for the Fogg’s collection, made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

3. Bottom Left: “Sunburned Face” (1926)

  • A haunting, high-contrast close-up portrait of a woman’s face, with dark, heavy-lidded eyes that stare directly at the viewer. Her hair is dark and framing her face; the photo has a dramatic chiaroscuro effect.
  • This newspaper clipping is from “The Independent,” dated “APRIL 19–25 1973, Page 15,” with handwritten notes: “From CK to DR” and “Gazette April 13, 1973.”
  • The article text notes: “Two giants of the Visual Arts died recently. One, Pablo Picasso... the other, Edward Steichen.” It states that the Fogg acquired Steichen’s “Sunburned Face” and the Brancusi portrait shortly before his death.

Overall Context:
The page is a personal or institutional scrapbook curated to memorialize Edward Steichen’s death and highlight the acquisition of his iconic works by the Fogg Museum (Harvard). It captures a moment in art history where major museums were securing key pieces by masters at the twilight of their lives. The handwriting and newspaper clippings reflect an era of analog media documentation and personal curation of art events.

The page serves as both a tribute and an artifact of art historical preservation during the 1970s.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

The image appears to be a page from a vintage scrapbook or a collection of historical documents and photographs, likely showcasing works by Edward Steichen. The page contains two black-and-white photographs and text annotations.

  1. The top left photograph is titled "Steeple Chase Day" and is dated 1913. It shows a group of people in a celebratory setting, possibly during a steeple chase event in Paris. The individuals are dressed in period clothing, and the scene includes a horse and carriage.

  2. The top right photograph is a portrait of Constantin Brancusi, taken by Edward Steichen in 1922. Brancusi is depicted with a prominent beard and hair, and the photograph has a slight grainy texture, typical of early 20th-century photography.

  3. The bottom left photograph is a close-up portrait of a woman with dark hair. The text below the photograph mentions that it is a "Sunburned Face" (1926), which is another work by Edward Steichen.

  4. The text annotations provide context about these photographs and Edward Steichen. It mentions that Steichen was a master photographer who produced the "Family of Man" exhibition. The text also notes that Steichen died just two days before his 94th birthday in 1973. It mentions that Davis Pratt, the Associate Curator of Photographs at the Fogg, spent time with Steichen reviewing his photographs, and that Davis Pratt purchased some vintage prints for the Fogg’s photograph collection.

The page is dated April 13, 1973, and has some handwritten notes, including a reference to "Harmonica Riddle" (1921) and "Sunburned Face" (1926) as works by Steichen. The overall layout and content suggest that this page might be from a historical archive or a document related to the Fogg Art Museum, which acquired Steichen's works.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

This image appears to be a page from a scrapbook or a collection of photographs and articles related to the photographer Edward Steichen. The page contains two photographs and a text excerpt.

  1. Top Left Photograph: This is a black-and-white image titled "Steeple Chase Day — Paris, 1913." It is a photograph by Edward Steichen, part of the Fogg's collection, and is on view in the museum's Department of Prints and Photographs. The image shows people in period clothing, possibly from the early 20th century, engaged in an outdoor scene.

  2. Bottom Left Photograph: This is a black-and-white portrait titled "Sunburned Face" from 1926. It is a close-up of a person's face with intense lighting, creating dramatic shadows and highlights.

  3. Right Photograph: This is a black-and-white portrait of a bearded man wearing a suit and tie. The text next to it identifies him as Constantin Brancusi, photographed by Edward Steichen in 1922.

  4. Text Excerpt: The text provides information about Edward Steichen, describing him as a master photographer who produced the widely known "The Family of Man" exhibition. It mentions that Steichen died suddenly in 1973, two days before his 94th birthday. The text also notes that the Fogg Art Museum acquired several of Steichen's masterpieces shortly before his death, including the photograph "Sunburned Face" and a portrait of Brancusi. The acquisitions were made possible with funds from a matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The page has handwritten notes and markings, indicating it might be part of a personal collection or research material. The overall theme of the page is focused on Edward Steichen's photographic works and his contributions to the field of photography.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

An open book with a brown cover has three black-and-white photos on the left side. The top photo is of a woman in a hat and dress standing next to a man in a suit and tie. The second photo is of a man with a beard and mustache. The third photo is of a woman with short hair. There is a white piece of paper with text on the right side.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is of an open book with a black-and-white photograph of a man and a woman. The man is wearing a hat and a suit, and the woman is wearing a dress. The book has a page with text and a picture of a man with a beard and mustache. The book also has a picture of a woman with a serious expression. The book is titled "Steeple Chase Day, Paris, 1913."

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image depicts an open book or catalog page showcasing a collection of photographs and accompanying text. The layout is organized into three sections:

  1. Top Left: A black-and-white photograph titled "Steeple Chase Day - Paris, 1913" by Edward Steichen. The image shows a group of people, likely spectators or participants, gathered around a horse-drawn carriage or similar vehicle, suggesting a lively, historical scene. The caption notes that this photograph is part of the Fogg's collection and is on view in the museum's Department of Prints and Photographs.

  2. Top Right: A smaller black-and-white photograph of Brancus, taken by Edward Steichen in 1922. The caption describes Brancus as the master photographer who passed away shortly before his 94th birthday. It also mentions that only one photograph of Brancus was taken, and this print is part of the Fogg's three-print collection. The text highlights Brancus's work, including "Harmonica Riddle" (1921) and "Sunburned Face" (1920).

  3. Bottom Left: A close-up black-and-white photograph of a woman's face, with handwritten notes below it. The notes include the words "INDEPENDENT HAWARD INDEPENDENT" and a date, "APRIL 19-25, 1973." The accompanying text discusses the recent deaths of two giants in the visual arts: Pablo Picasso and Edward Steichen. It emphasizes Steichen's legacy as a master photographer and notes that the Fogg acquired several of his works shortly before his death. The text also mentions that a portrait of the sculptor Brancusi, along with other prints, is on view in the Fogg Department of Prints and Photographs.

The page appears to be from an exhibition catalog or archive, documenting significant photographs and providing context about the artists and their works. Handwritten annotations and stamps suggest it may have been used for internal reference or cataloging purposes. The overall design combines historical photographs with descriptive text, offering insights into the artists' contributions and the museum's collection.

Meta, us.meta.llama3-2-11b-instruct-v1:0

The image shows a page from a scrapbook or photo album, featuring a collection of photographs and newspaper clippings. The page is open to a double-page spread, with the left page showing a photograph of a woman's face and a newspaper clipping about Steeple Chase Day in Paris, 1913. The right page features a photograph of a man and a newspaper clipping about Edward Steichen.

  • Left Page:
    • Photograph of a Woman's Face: The photograph is in black and white and shows a close-up of a woman's face. She has dark hair and is looking directly at the camera.
    • Newspaper Clipping: The clipping is from the Independent newspaper and is dated April 19-25, 1973. It features a headline that reads "NARUMBO INDEPENDENT" and includes a paragraph of text about Steeple Chase Day in Paris, 1913.
  • Right Page:
    • Photograph of a Man: The photograph is in black and white and shows a man with a beard and mustache. He is wearing a suit and tie and is looking directly at the camera.
    • Newspaper Clipping: The clipping is from the Gazette newspaper and is dated April 13, 1973. It features a headline that reads "Beancusi, as photographed by Edward Steichen in 1922" and includes a paragraph of text about Edward Steichen.

Overall, the image appears to be a collection of photographs and newspaper clippings related to art and photography. The photographs feature portraits of people, while the newspaper clippings provide information about art exhibitions and events.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-maverick-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image depicts a page from a scrapbook or photo album featuring three black-and-white photographs, each accompanied by a caption. The page is open to reveal the left side, which contains the photographs and captions.

  • Top-left photograph:
    • Titled "STEEPLE CHASE DAY - PARIS, 1913"
    • Captured by Edward Steichen
    • Part of the Fogg collection on view in the "Photographs by Edward Steichen" exhibit from April 12-26, 1973
  • Bottom-left photograph:
    • A close-up portrait of a woman's face
    • Caption discusses the recent deaths of Pablo Picasso and Edward Steichen, both giants in the visual arts
    • The Fogg acquired several of Steichen's masterpieces shortly before his death
    • Newspaper clipping from "INDEPENDENT" dated April 19-25, 1973, page 15
  • Top-right photograph:
    • A portrait of a man with a beard
    • Caption identifies the subject as Brancusi, photographed by Edward Steichen in 1922
    • Steichen produced the widely known "Family of Man" exhibition, which opened at the Museum of Modern Art in 1955
    • The Fogg owns a Steichen gravure from "Camera Work" titled "Steeple Chase Day (Paris, 1913)"
    • Funds from a matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts made the purchase of the Steichen prints possible
    • Handwritten notes on the clipping include "Look CR to DR" and "Grateful April 13, 1973"

The page appears to be part of a scrapbook or photo album created to commemorate the acquisition of Edward Steichen's photographs by the Fogg Art Museum. The captions provide context and information about the photographs, while the handwritten notes suggest that the creator of the scrapbook was grateful for the acquisition and may have been involved in the process.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-scout-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image presents a page from an open book, featuring three black-and-white photographs and accompanying text. The page is divided into two sections: the left side contains two photographs with captions, while the right side features a single photograph with a longer caption.

Left Side:

  • Top Photograph: A blurry image of people dancing, titled "STEEPLE CHASE DAY - PARIS, 1913." The caption below reads, "This photograph by Edward Steichen, part of the Fogg's collection, is on view in the museum's Dept. of Prints and Photographs."
  • Bottom Photograph: A close-up portrait of a woman's face, with a caption that discusses the deaths of Pablo Picasso and Edward Steichen, two giants of the Visual Arts.

Right Side:

  • Photograph: A portrait of a man with a beard, accompanied by a longer caption that provides information about the photograph and its artist, Edward Steichen.

Additional Notes:

  • Handwritten notes in red and blue ink are visible on the page, including "INDEPENDENT" and "NARVARD INDEPENDENT."
  • A date, "APRIL 19-25 1973," is written in blue ink, along with "Page 15."
  • The background of the page is a light brown color, with a darker brown border around the edges. The overall atmosphere suggests that this is a scrapbook or photo album created by someone who appreciates photography and art.

Meta, us.meta.llama3-2-90b-instruct-v1:0

The image depicts a page from a scrapbook or photo album, featuring three black-and-white photographs and accompanying text. The top-left photograph shows a woman in a long dress, with the caption "STEEPLE CHASE DAY - PARIS, 1913" and additional handwritten notes. The bottom-left photograph is a close-up of a woman's face, with a caption that reads "Two giants of the Visual Arts died recently: One, Pablo Picasso, is among the most famed in history. The other, Edward Steichen, is considered by many the master photographer. The Fogg acquired shortly before Mr. Steichen's death several masterpieces, including Sunburned Face (1924) which appears above, and a portrait of the sculptor Brancusi. These and other prints are on view in the Fogg Dept. of Prints and Photographs." The right-hand side of the page features a vertical strip of paper with a photograph of a man and a paragraph of text describing his work as a photographer. The background of the page is a light brown color, with a darker brown border around the edges. Overall, the image appears to be a collection of photographs and text related to art and photography, possibly from a museum or gallery exhibition.