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American Photographs 1845 to Now

A black-and-white photograph of a muscular man crouched next to a large piece of machinery that he is adjusting with a wrench.

August 20, 2016–February 12, 2017

Second floor

American Photographs, 1845 to Now brings together more than 70 photographs drawn from the Carter’s permanent collection. Spanning the history of the medium, the works reflect the diversity of photographic practices in the United States that grew along with the country’s industrial development beginning in the mid-19th century. Covering 170 years of photography’s history, from unique daguerreotype portraits to large-scale contemporary works, the exhibition provides a glance at photography’s central role in recording the people, places, and events that have come to define the United States.

Exhibition Highlights

Lewis Wickes Hine

Steamfitter, 1921

Gelatin silver print

P1981.80.3

A black-and-white photograph of a muscular man crouched next to a large piece of machinery that he is adjusting with a wrench.

Helen Levitt

New York, ca. 1942

Gelatin silver print

P1984.24

William Christenberry

Coleman's Cafe, Greensboro, 1971, 1971

Dye coupler print

P1991.27.4

Nicholas Nixon

Chelsea, Massachusetts, 1981

Gelatin silver print

P1983.43.1

Joyce Culver

Two Mailboxes, Boca Raton, Florida, 1978

Dye coupler print

P2012.12.2

A color photograph of two blue mailboxes next to a large Christmas tree with a palm tree in the background.

Joel Sampson

Shell, 2002

Dye coupler print face mounted on acrylic

P2004.1

A color photograph of a city at night from a hotel roof with a Shell gas station sign lit up.

Kenneth Josephson

Matthew, 1965

Gelatin silver print

P2008.28

A black-and-white photograph of a White toddler in overalls holding in front of his face an upside down photo of himself standing in front of a brick wall as he stands in front of a brick wall.

Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Historic Spanish Record of the Conquest, South Side of Inscription Rock, N. M. No. 3, 1873

Albumen silver print

P1982.27.37

Walker Evans

Penny Picture Display, Savannah, 1936

Gelatin silver print

P1987.4.1

A black-and-white photograph of dozens of photo strips with the word "Studio" across the middle of the image.

All Exhibitions