In the American West by Richard Avedon, Signed Edition

In the American West by Richard Avedon 

First Edition, Second Printing, 1985 

Signed and dated by Richard Avedon 

FINE Condition 

This is a first edition, second printing of Richard Avedon’s critically acclaimed photobook “In the American West” published by Harry Abrams, New York in 1985. For a 5 year period beginning in 1979, Richard Avedon produced a series of portraits of the men and women that he felt characterized the American West. He focused on people who work at hard, uncelebrated jobs. Parr and Badger in their reference work, “The Photobook: A History” write, "Avedon photographed the common man rather than the celebrity. To make the work, Avedon travelled extensively across the Western states of America, giving us his personal view of the frontier spirit, which meant puncturing a few myths and constructing some new ones. The tone of the book is ferociously bleak, but undeniably powerful…The haunting portraits made in this book are among the most powerful that Avedon has made."

Containing 113 duotone photographs including one gatefold and measuring approximately 14” x 11”, the book is bound in brown cloth covered boards and photographs mounted on the front and back with a clear acetate dust jacket. The book is in FINE condition with a FINE- acetate dust jacket that evidences some minor wear and has been boldly signed and dated by Richard Avedon on the first free endpaper.

Cited in “The Photobook: A History” by Parr & Badger.

Photographs of the front of the dust jacket, the signature page as well as photographs contained in the book appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the pictures are viewable as a slideshow.