Group exhibition

The National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

06.10.2024 - 06.04.2025

The 1970s was a decade of uncertainty in the United States. Americans witnessed soaring inflation, energy crises, and the Watergate scandal, as well as protests about pressing issues such as the Vietnam War, women’s rights, gay liberation, and the environment. The country’s profound upheaval formed the backdrop for a revolution in documentary photography. Activism and a growing awareness and acceptance of diversity opened the field to underrepresented voices. At the same time, artistic experimentation fueled the reimagining of what documentary photographs could look like.

Featuring some 100 works by more than 80 artists, The ʼ70s Lens examines how photographers reinvented documentary practice during this radical shift in American life.

More information

Photo:

John Baldessari, Throwing three balls in the air to get a straight line: (best of thirty-six attempts), 1973

National Gallery of Art Library

David K. E. Bruce Fund