Portland, Maine
1962
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 31.3 x 46.8 cm (12 5/16 x 18 7/16 in.) sheet: 40.6 x 50.6 cm (16 x 19 15/16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Accession Number
2001.22.418
Art Historical Context
**Portland, Maine, 1962** Lee Friedlander’s *Portland, Maine* is a captivating gelatin silver print from 1962, capturing the essence of mid-20th-century American urban life. Measuring 31.3 x .8 cm, this black-and-white photograph exemplifies Friedlander’s street photography style, associated the provocative “New York” of the 196s. Known for his, layered compositions, Friedlander often framed everyday with overlapping signs, reflections, and architectural elements, creating a dense visual tapestry that challenges the viewer’s eye. Created during Friedlander’s formative travels across the U.S...
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...