Alfred Stieglitz's 291 gallery

In 1905, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, and others opened a photo salon and gallery called "291" at 291 Fifth Ave between 30th and 31st. It was directly across the street from Wilbraham before being demolished in 1920 to make room for the Textile Building. It was to make photographic and art history. There his group called the Photo Secession arranged a continuous series of highly selected, international, photography exhibitions, something that had never been done before. In January, 1908, they exhibited Rodin drawings, attracting a great deal of attention, favorable and unfavorable.

That was followed by Matisse drawings. and then Cezanne watercolors and Picasso drawings in 1911. It was the only place in the US that you could see something other than academic art at that time. Alfred Stieglitz exhibited paintings and sculpture, bringing modern art to America.

The Armory Show came later in 1913 and 87,000 people visited it.

And, of course, Georgia O'Keefe's first show at 291 was in 1917.

Members of the Photo Secession also include Clarence White, Gertrude Kasebier, Anne Brigman, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Joseph Keiley.