Info:
- Dates: 30.04.25 – 12.10.25
- Curator: Clément Chéroux
- Where: Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Price: 10 euros / 6 euros reduced
In the American West is a celebrated photographic series and book by Richard Avedon, the result of five years of work (1979 – 1984) across the western United States. The project, which includes 103 striking portraits, is presented in its entirety for the first time at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson.
It all began in 1979 when the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (Texas) commissioned Avedon—already a highly acclaimed photographer—to create a series capturing ordinary life in the American West. He immediately embraced the challenge and spent the next five years traveling across the region, photographing more than a thousand individuals he encountered along the way. The final selection was published in 1985 in the book In the American West. Now, forty years later, this anniversary exhibition has been co-organized by the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson and The Richard Avedon Foundation.
The book has been a success since its first release. Known for his long-term projects, Avedon was deeply interested in documenting the social and cultural tensions of his era. He had previously photographed the civil rights movement in the American South and the protests against the Vietnam War—images that today stand as historical testaments to 20th-century American life.
With In the American West, Avedon turned his attention to the working class. Throughout his journey, he met and photographed farmers, miners, waitresses, truckers, drifters, and shepherds. He often spent time with each of his subjects, building a relationship before taking their portrait. While his photographs are carefully staged and far from spontaneous photojournalism, this personal connection is what makes each image so powerful: the subjects do not simply appear—they speak. They look directly at the viewer, creating a striking sense of presence.
Avedon’s photographic language is instantly recognizable: a plain white background, strong black-and-white contrast, and an unwavering focus on the subject. This stripped-back composition eliminates any distraction and brings forth the essence of the individual. Every detail—lines on the face, posture, gaze—is emphasized, revealing the dignity, hardship, or vulnerability of each figure.
«A phographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he’s being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much a part of the photograph as what he’s wearing or how he looks”
-Richard Avedon, 1974
The exhibition occupies the two main galleries of the Fondation, with a minimalist scenography that mirrors Avedon’s aesthetic: white walls, no unnecessary embellishments, and just a few texts. The 103 portraits line the walls with a powerful rhythm, each accompanied by a simple caption naming the subject’s profession. This juxtaposition of the image with a name and the job invites the viewer to imagine the stories behind the faces—almost as if we could read their lives through the lens.
The exhibition is enriched by several original annotated prints, revealing how meticulously Avedon reviewed each image to maximize its impact. Some Polaroids used during the sessions are also shown, with subjects holding a card listing the photo number, evoking a cinematic “take.” Finally, a selection of letters from the families of the portrayed individuals adds a touching layer, offering insight into how these people responded to seeing themselves—or their relatives—immortalized in the book.
With In the American West, Richard Avedon pays tribute to those often rendered invisible yet who form the backbone of society. His deeply human gaze, free of sensationalism, captures the strength and fragility of everyday lives. A remarkable and moving body of work that continues to resonate, forty years on.
My personal highlights:
- Robert Dixon, meat packer, Aurora, Colorado, June 15, 1983
- Boyd Fortin, 13 years old, rattlesnake skinner, Sweetwater, Texas, March 10, 1979
- Loretta, Loudilla and Kay Johnson, co-presidents, Loretta Lynn Fan Club
- Ronald Fischer, beekeeper, Davis, California, May 9, 1987
MUSEmemoirs 