The Rijksmuseum presents a comprehensive exhibition on American photography, titled “First Major Survey of American Photography.” With over 200 pieces on display, the exhibit offers a thorough overview of American photography, featuring artists from diverse backgrounds and spanning the last 150 years. Curated from the Rijksmuseum’s own collections, the exhibition notably excludes some prominent American photographers, such as Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, Dorothea Lange or Steve McCurry. However, it dedicates significant space to Robert Frank and his influential book “The Americans,” which has inspired many post-war American photographers. Not denying ourselves the pleasure, we wander through the history of photography with works by famous photographers like Diane Arbus, Paul Strand and László Moholy-Nagy, but also from lesser known photographers like Lisette Model, Irene Poon and her powerful portrait of her sister Virginia, Mong Smith and the omnipresence of Stars and Stripes, Ben Shahn, or Alice Austen. Many of these names are still relatively unknown today and not regularly shown, making this event a discovery of many talents. The topics are varied, ranging from portraits, everyday personal moments to major historical events, showcasing how photography has evolved into an integral part of our day-to-day lives since it was invented in the XIXth century. Although I selected only black-and-white photos to show here, the exhibit is also rich in color photography.
