The Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation unveils, for the first time in Europe, the entirety of the legendary series In the American West by Richard Avedon. A raw and moving plunge into 1980s America.
In 1979, Richard Avedon, famous for his polished portraits of stars and iconic fashion campaigns, made a complete U-turn. Leaving behind his Manhattan studios, he set off to travel the roads of the American West. For five years, he photographed more than a thousand faces: miners, cowboys, factory workers, outcasts… using a large-format camera and a stark white background.
Le résultat: In the American WestA series of 103 black and white portraits that reinvents the conventions of documentary portraiture. Forget the grandiose landscapes and heroic figures of the Western: here, the West is rugged, weary, often ravaged, but infinitely human. Each face becomes a territory to explore, each gaze, a story.
To mark the 40th anniversary of this monumental work, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation is exhibiting the entire series for the first time in Europe, accompanied by previously unseen documents: Polaroids, annotated prints, and letters exchanged with the models. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the intimacy of Avedon's creative process, revealing the rigor and empathy behind each photograph. Far from presenting an idealized American folklore, this exhibition explores themes of identity, dignity, work, and solitude. It resonates powerfully today, at a time when the forgotten faces of America are once again at the heart of public debate.
“Richard Avedon – In the American West”
Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation
79, rue des Archives, Paris 3e
From April 30 to October 12, 2025
