For them 40 years of In the American Westthe foundation Henri Cartier-Bresson presents the first European exhibition bringing together all 103 Portraits of Richard Avedon (1923-2004). In reverse of clichés, this monumental series offers a poignant and unprecedented vision of West Americanto discover until October 12, 2025.
Sear the time, between shadow and light
Born in 1923 in New York, Richard Avedon has established himself as the Master of fashion photographyhis talent establishing him as ATTRIBER of Vogue et Harper’s Bazaar.
At the dawn of the 80s, Richard Avedon was at the top of his career. His own portrait covers Newsweek (a rare honor for a photographer). The character played by Fred Astaire in Funny Facealongside Audrey Hepburn, is freely inspired by him. At that time, Richard Avedon was the ultimate American photographer, his device mirror in which the most beautiful women and artists of the time are seen.
However, Avedon regularly leaves comfort Studios to start on the roads. As a breathing, these leaks allow it to continue a long -term commitment To draw up another portrait: that of the United Statesof their political, social and cultural issues. Portraits of the American establishment (The Family), burnled from Saigon victims of napalm or faces of militants for civil rights; Richard Avedon has not stopped Translate the tensions of its time in image.
A monumental project counterclockwise of the Midwest myth
Between 1979 and 1984at the request of theAmon Carter Museum of American Art (Forth Worth – Texas), Richard Avedon parcourt the west of the United Statesfar from the lights of the studios. He is accompanied by two assistants and Laura Wilson which coordinates the laying sessions.
Made in the heart of the Republican era, at the height of the recessionthe series testifies to the deindustrialisation andaggressiveness of the neoliberal policy of Reagan towards workers and popular classes. Santa Fe, El Mason, San Antonio, Navajo reserve of Arizona… The equipped will chain journeys during 5 yearsskimming local festivals for provoke the meeting that will inspire the photographer.
Breeders, minors, drilling employees, cowboys, fairgrounds, waitresses, homeless but also prisoners or hospital patients: all pass before Large format photographic room (negative of 20 x 25cm) adding to Kilos of equipment transported.
For this project, neara thousand portraits will be made, but only 110 photographs they will all be shown today presented at the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation.
A series draped in simplicity and dignity
In 1942, Richard Avedon joined the merchant navy to make the identification portraits of sailors armed with his Leica. For In The American West, He is inspired by these rudimentary images like small portraits taken by itinerant photographers at the time of the conquest of the West.
Photographed from the front on a white backgroundthe subjects are seized outdoors, in natural light. Simple white fabrics stretched against a barn or a farm serve as itinerant photo studio open -air.
I avoided artificial light. The whole series is lit by the West.
Stripped of any decor or folklorethese faces and silhouettes tell theAnother side of the American myth. In reverse of the heroic imaging of the Great West, Richard Avedon captures fatigue, harshness, but also the sweetness and dignity of Those who live from the earth and their work.
Behind this apparent simplicity hides an extremely complex work process. Five years of shots are followed by two years of production and developmentspreading the project over almost ten years. This refinement strengthens The privacy of the face-to-face : Between the model and the photographer, but also between these portraits and the viewer’s gaze.
Look at a photograph of Avedon: you will see in action the paradox of all great art of large race.
Roland Barthes
THE 103 images selected for the book and exhibition of the time (110 shots considering the diptychs and triptychs of the series) will be drawn in 5 different sizessmall presented at the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation to large formats of 120 × 94 cm exhibited at the time (as well as in 2008 in the game of palms, for a selection of images) and up to 2 m high for a dozen prints.
A documentary fiction
In The American West is not a documentary and is not intended to register in the line of Dorothea Lange. Its strength is due to the rupture initiated with the codes of reporting and social documentary. This project is the result of a subjective point of viewthat of Richard Avedon on theUnited States State. The artist will go so far as to talk about fiction To present this unique corpus exceeding the framework of the photographic command.
Ce fictional character is also highlighted by a few manufactured portraitsincluding one Image that has become mythical : that of beekeeper. The image was fully staged Following a dream from Richard Avedon who realizes preparatory sketches and, using a small announcement in theAmerican Bee Journalwill look for the ideal model for Reproduce the forged image in his mind.
Conductor of his composition, Richard Avedon managed to weave a fusional relationship unparalleled with his models while in leader Rely by gaze, gestures or voice.
A visit to the rhythm of reading
Forty years after its publication, In the American West comes back to us thanks to the collaboration of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation and Richard Avedon Foundation.
Of the documents d’archive rares shed light on the genesis and reception of the project. THE Gelatino-argentic events and the first edition of the book are exhibited alongside Preparatory polaroids et Annotted test prints by Richard Avedon. Of the letters Exchanged between the photographer and his models, sometimes several years after their meeting, testify to the depth of established links.
It was the very game of prints on which the photographer was working on for the exhibition. These Reference prints were used to make the book and the subsequent enlargements. A format that, for Clément Chéroux (director of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation), establishes a more intimate distance with the public all in placing the visitor in the photographer’s footsteps, Richard Avedon standing next to his goal, trigger by hand.
This photo exhibition is first of all a Tribute to the book. The Path of the hanging has been dictated by monograph To keep its spontaneity and authenticity. A scrupulous respect for theorder of appearance of portraits But also breathing. A virgin page materializes by an empty space and a double page by attached prints. On the wall, the prints of Richard Avedon seem to dance around their visitor.
A Reissued Cult Book
With his monograph published in 1985, Richard Avedon signed one of the highlights of the photographic portrait. In holding idealization as miserabilismhe managed to make each portrait the sincere and complex reflection of the vision which posed on a person.
To support this retrospective event, the publisher Abrams reissues In the American West in its original formatlong exhausted. A rare English -speaking publication which allows to extend this Immersion in America with multiple faces.
The book provided for in bookstores in September 2025 is already proposed exclusively to the Librairie de la Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson (120 €).
Practical info:
Richard Avedon, In the American West
From April 30 to October 12, 2025
Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation
79 rue des Archives, 75003 Paris
Tuesday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Full price € 10, reduced price 6 €
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