Paris
1997
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 38.1 x 37.8 cm (15 x 14 7/8 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
2001.22.264
Art Historical Context
Lee Friedlander's *Paris* (1997) captures the artist's keen eye for urban complexity during a late-career exploration of international cityscapes. Friedlander, a master of American street photography since the 1960s, is renowned for his innovative compositions that layer reflections, signage, and architectural details into dynamic, almost disorienting views. This gelatin silver print, taken in the French capital, exemplifies his signature style—dense, diagonal framing that invites viewers to decode the interplay of light, shadow, and everyday chaos. Printed in the traditional gelatin silver p...
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...