New York City
1964
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 31.1 x 46.8 cm (12 1/4 x 18 7/16 in.) sheet: 40.5 x 50.6 cm (15 15/16 x 19 15/16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Accession Number
2001.22.427
Art Historical Context
Lee Friedlander's *New York City* (1964) is a captivating gelatin silver print that exemplifies the artist's innovative approach to street photography during the mid-20th century. Captured in the vibrant chaos of urban America, this 31.1 x 46.8 cm image (on a 40.5 x 50.6 cm sheet) showcases Friedlander's signature style: dense, layered compositions filled with reflections, signage, and architectural fragments. As part of the National Gallery of Art's collection, acquired through the Patrons' Permanent Fund, it reflects the era's fascination with the modern city as both a playground and a puzzl...
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...