American photography
A major overview of American photography from 1839 to the present day spread over nine themes, including portraits, the American Dream, social issues and early advertising photography. A mixture of familiar and unfamilar photographs and photographers.
About the Project
America is by far the most important and influential country in modern photography. Photography has recorded many developments and events in America from very close at hand. The exhibition will show America as seen through the eyes of American photographers. Since photographers often reflected on the circumstances in and nature of their country and fellow inhabitants they automatically examine important and sometimes sensitive subjects, such as the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter. This exhibition is about the American use of photography and the American identity as depicted and commented on through photographs.
Aim of the project
American photography is very well known, but there are many aspects of it that are not so familiar. Never before has there been such a large-scale survey in Europe, so this will be the first time that the European public encounters the subject. The core of the exhibition will be formed by the Rijksmuseum’s own collection, for in the past 15 years we have acquired a relatively large number of American photographs. In addition, there will be numerous loans from Dutch, European and American collections, which will establish a context for own photographs.
Related publications
Book (similiar to Modern Times and New Realities)
Staff
Hans Rooseboom
h.rooseboom@rijksmuseum.nl
Curator of Photography
Mattie Boom
m.boom@rijksmuseum.nl
Curator of Photography
Partners and sponsors
The Terra Foundation of American Art has supported two Terra Foundation Fellowships in American Photography (2021-2022). These fellows have contributed to the research into the American photography collection.
The collection 20th-century photography is supported by Baker McKenzie.
