Past Exhibition

In the Library: Photobooks and American Energy

Details

  • Dates

    -

  • Locations

    East Building

    East Building Ground Level, Library Atrium

Books and photographs come together to tell stories about powering America today.

This presentation draws from the National Gallery of Art Library collections. It looks at how artists use photobooks to reveal the impact of the energy industry on the American landscape and people.

Books offer a different experience than seeing images on a wall or your social media feed. Complex stories are told when photos join text, other printed elements, and even the book binding. Come explore a wide-ranging selection of photobooks by contemporary photographers – then handle more examples in our reading room. 

Organization
Organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Curated by Yuri Long, special collections librarian at the National Gallery of Art. 
 

Image credit: Shelby Lee Adams (photographer), From the Heads of the Hollers, first edition, London: GOST Books, 2023, National Gallery of Art Library, Anonymous Gift 

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The image shows a group of men standing in a tunnel or mine shaft. The upper half of their bodies is visible, with several standing in the foreground and others in the background. The men are wearing headlamps on their helmets, illuminating their soot-covered faces. Some of the men have short-cropped hair visible beneath their helmets. They are dressed in rugged, dust-stained work clothes suitable for mining, such as overalls and jackets. One man in the front holds a mining drill, while another holds a tin canister. A metal structure is visible in the background, indicating a mining operation setting, with dark and industrial surroundings.

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The image depicts a seated woman in a half-body portrait within an ornate gold-colored border. She is sitting upright with her hands in lace gloves in front of her. The woman has a composed expression, short hair, and wears a dark dress with lace details. The background is plain, emphasizing the details of her attire and the frame. No jewelry is visible.

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