Richard Avedon “In the American West” @gagosian
By Watson Evans Art
Richard Avedon “In the American West” @gagosian
At the time of its debut in 1985, “In the American West”, marked a decisive shift for Richard Avedon, who was then primarily known for redefining American fashion photography and his political portraits.
Between 1979–84, travelling across 21 states, Avedon photographed miners, ranchers, oil workers and drifters. These were individuals rarely centred in America’s visual narrative. The series stripped away landscape and sentimentality. No horizon lines. No romantic backdrop. Just the sitter, isolated against white, every mark of experience visible.
Following on from the many painters, photographers and draughtsmen who have tried to capture the American West before him, Avedon’s photographs give a truer portrait of the American West than any landscape ever could do.
Curated by his granddaughter Caroline Avedon, the exhibition at Gagosian features photographs that haven’t been seen since their debut in 1985. These works are both intimate and historically significant. It is a powerful reminder of why this body of work remains central to Avedon’s legacy and to the canon of 20th-century portraiture.