San Francisco
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: 50.6 x 40.8 cm (19 15/16 x 16 1/16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Accession Number
2001.22.284
Art Historical Context
Lee Friedlander, a pioneering American photographer born in 1934, is celebrated for his street photography that transforms everyday urban scenes into dense, visually intricate compositions. His 1997 gelatin silver *San Francisco*, now in the National Gallery of Art's collection (acquired through the Patrons' Permanent), exemplifies his lifelong fascination with American cityscapes. Friedlander often layered reflections, shadows, signage, and architectural elements to create disorienting yet poetic images, challenging viewers to navigate the visual chaos of modern life. The medium—gelatin silv...
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...