Richard Avedon. In the American West

The Recoletos Hall on the MAPFRE Foundation will host an exhibition from 6 June to 30 August organised together with the Cartier Bresson Foundation in Paris, with works on mortgage from The Richard Avedon Foundation, wherein the portraits of inhabitants of the American West by the North American photographer may be admired in a challenge which marked his profession.   

In the American West is the results of Avedon’s fee by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Texas, which consisted of travelling across the American West for 5 years (1979-1984) to {photograph} its inhabitants. Alone or in small teams, he photographed miners, cowboys, truthful staff, gross sales folks, ranchers, and so forth., at all times towards a white background that highlighted their options, postures and expressions.  The end result was a illustration of the area and its folks which stood out from the standard photos that romanticised the legend of  the American West.  The collection grew to become a reference within the historical past of photographic portraiture and one of many milestones within the photographer’s profession.

Richard Avedon (New York, 1923 – San Antonio, Texas, 2004) pursued a profession in pictures from an early age. In addition to his excellent work within the trend world, in magazines, reminiscent of Harper’s Bazaar or Vogue, he additionally carried out different photographic tasks wherein he portrayed social and political points, such because the civil rights motion and the Vietnam War, amongst different present affairs.

Image Credit:

• Richard Avedon. Ronald Fischer, Beekeeper, Davis, California, 9 May, 1987 © The Richard Avedon Foundation