San Francisco
1973-1978, printed 1994
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 29.21 × 19.05 cm (11 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.) sheet: 35.56 × 27.94 cm (14 × 11 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Gift of Mr. Isidore and Mrs. Dorothy (Steinberg) Kavka and Museum Purchase)
Accession Number
2016.117.88
Art Historical Context
Richard Gordon's *San Francisco* (1973–1978, printed 1994) is a captivating gelatin silver print that captures the raw energy of the city's streets during a transformative era. Measuring 29.21 × 19.05 cm, this black-and-white photograph exemplifies Gordon's documentary style, honed in the 1970s as he roamed urban landscapes with his camera. Gelatin silver prints, prized for their exceptional tonal depth and clarity, were a staple of fine art photography, allowing Gordon to render intricate details—from weathered facades to fleeting human moments—with timeless precision. Created amid San Franc...
About the Artist
Richard Gordon
Richard Gordon (1945–2012) was a self-taught American photographer born in Chicago, Illinois. He studied political science at the University of Chicago from 1963 to 1967 but discovered photography in 1965 while working at a local studio.) Early in his career, Robert Frank critiqued his work, praising his passion for the medium, and Gordon frequently paid homage to influences like Eugène Atget, Wal...