Lee Friedlander: The American Monument

In images made in the 1970s, Friedlander complicates notions of commemoration by photographing statues and monuments dwarfed by their environment, or taking on an alternate role within their surroundings.

Black-and-white photograph of a statue with a Coca-Cola sign, billboards, and skyscrapers in the background
Black and white photograph of the back of a monument
Black and white photograph of an eagle monument with buildings in the background
Black and white photograph of a monument of a man on a horse with birds flying in the sky
Black and white photograph of a monument covered in snow
Black and white photograph of a monument obscured by trees
Black and white photograph of a monument of a man holding a gun and people walking in the direction the gun is pointed
Black and white photograph of monument in an open field with trees in the background
Black and white photograph of a monument surrounded by pigeons
Black and white photograph of a monument with a tree directly behind it
View all

Related Portfolios

Black and white photographs of two women in sunglasses taking photographs on a city street

Lee Friedlander: The People’s Pictures
Black and white photograph of a rural two story building with the word 'eat' in large white letters on its roof.

Lee Friedlander: Signs
Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman entering and exiting a building with their faces obscured by doors

Lee Friedlander: The Street
Black-and-white photograph of a television with a woman's face onscreen on top of a bureau

Lee Friedlander: The Little Screens