California
1997
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 37.8 x 37.6 cm (14 7/8 x 14 13/16 in.) sheet: 50.5 x 40.6 cm (19 7/8 x 16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Accession Number
2001.22.255
Art Historical Context
**California**, a 1997 gelatin silver by Lee Friedlander, the essence of late-20th-century American photography with its intimate square format (nearly 15 x 15 inches). Acquired through the National Gallery of Art's Patrons' Fund and housed in the CPH department this work exemplifies Friedlander's mastery of black-and-white gelatin printing—a traditional darkroom process involving silver halides suspended in gelatin, prized for its rich tonal range and subtle gradations. Even as digital photography emerged in the 1990s, Friedlander's commitment to this medium underscored his dedication to tact...
About the Artist
Lee Friedlander
Lee Friedlander, born on July 14, 1934, in Aberdeen, Washington, to a Finnish-descended mother, Kaari Nurmi, and German-Jewish émigré father, Fritz Friedlander, discovered photography at age 14 amid a fascination with the medium's equipment. Tragedy marked his childhood when his mother died of cancer at age seven, yet he pursued his passion, earning pocket money with a camera before studying under...