From news and advertising photos to photographic art and family snaps,
From news and advertising photos to photographic art and family snaps, no country embraced photography as quickly after its invention as the United States. This exhibition of more than 200 works shines a light on the multifaceted history of photography in America.
American Photography shows how the camera has been a witness to the hopes and dreams of an entire society, and to watershed moments in history. From the very first photographs of a human being to Robert Frank’s famous series The Americans, American Photography tells the story of a country in constant flux.
American Photography: unforgettable images of the beauty and brutality of a nation.
The Guardian
Like Golden Age paintings in 17th century Holland, photography – democratic, accessible, fast, innovative – created American identity. The Rijksmuseum’s generous, far-ranging exhibition expresses that open spirit.
Financial Times
Rijksmuseum After Hours
Will we see you after closing time at the Rijksmuseum? On May 16, we invite you to an evening with workshops, talks, music and more around the exhibition American Photography. Click here for more information.
Carrie Mae Weems: Painting the Town
The display in the Rijksmuseum’s photography gallery of Carrie Mae Weems’ 2021 series Painting the Town will run concurrently with American Photography. This is the first show of Weems’s work in the Netherlands. At first sight these striking images resemble abstract paintings, but they are in fact photographs that the artist made in her home city of Portland.
Carrie Mae Weems will visit the Rijksmuseum on 31 May for a special lecture. Weems will interweave personal stories with societal themes such as power dynamics, inequality, and discrimination. Click here for more information.
Photography collection
The Rijksmuseum’s photography collection comprises some 200,000 photographs and photo books, all of them exceptional examples of international photography from 1839 to today. Its main focus is on Dutch, French and, since 2005, American photography. This exhibition presents work from our collection of American photography for the first time.
Partners
American Photography is made possible in part by our main partner Baker McKenzie, Rijksmuseum Patrons and the following Rijksmuseum funds: Jan & Trish de Bont, the Marque Joosten & Eduard Planting Fund and Rijksmuseum International Circle.
Carrie Mae Weems: Painting the Town is made possible in part by the Friend’s Lottery (VriendenLoterij) and the Women of the Rijksmuseum Fund.
