Western Landscapes

Lee Friedlander (b. 1934) is best known for his images of the social landscape, in which the banal features of roadsides and city streets become a vivid backdrop for human interaction. In this extraordinary compilation, Friedlander turns his attention to the natural landscape. Western Landscapes features more than 175 images of the western United States, Canada, and Mexico, taken during the 1990s and 2000s. The selection encompasses mountains, deserts, icy plains, and forests alike, capturing the majesty of crashing waves and towering peaks as well as the humble beauty of mottled stones and tangled twigs. Friedlander also showcases in crisp black and white some of the most prominent and treasured American national parks—including Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Zion. The iconic grandeur and isolation of the west provide a counterpoint to Friedlander’s portraits and scenes of modern American life, illustrating another equally compelling dimension of national identity.