William Eggleston Untitled, (c. 1970-1973), via David Zwinrer
The Outlands, on view this month at David Zwirner, provides a new perspective and emphasis on the work of photographer William Eggleston, an American artist known for his pioneering use of color photography in the 1970s. The exhibition, held at David Zwirner gallery in New York, features a selection of Eggleston’s photographs taken between 1970 and 1973.
A pioneer of color photography, Eggleston helped elevate the medium to the art form that it is recognized as today. The works that will be on view exemplify Eggleston’s singular ability to visualize a distinctive encounter that nevertheless encapsulates the qualities of a more general time and place through the subtleties of color, surface, and light. Some images recall rural colorist landscapes from the nineteenth century, while others have an almost subdued yet ponderous visual quality reminiscent of the paintings of Edward Hopper. The formal sophistication and pictorialism of these works is complemented by the way Eggleston evocatively manifests the unique character of the American postwar visual and material landscape. Images of gas stations, bars, burger joints, and drive-ins offer a sociological meditation on the typology of the built environment of the American South while also highlighting the presence and individuality of the people who inhabit these spaces.
William Eggleston Untitled, (c. 1970-1973), via David Zwinrer
While Eggleston’s photographs often portray the mundanity of everyday life, they also capture the beauty and charm of the American South. In The Outlands, Eggleston presents a series of photographs that showcase the region’s landscapes, rolling hills and fields of wildflowers, serving as backdrops for moments of repose and cultural encounters.  These photographs reveal the natural beauty that can be found in the seemingly unremarkable corners of the country, and their role in framing the experiences of American life. Many of the images that will be in the exhibition speak to the refinement of Eggleston’s vision and his supreme talent for working within and outside the conventions of the photographic medium. A photograph of a glass of iced tea resting on a table in a diner seems to almost self-consciously reference Eggleston’s now iconic image of a drink resting on an airplane tray table, also taken during this period.
William Eggleston Untitled, (c. 1970-1973), via David Zwinrer
William Eggleston, The Outlands (Installation View), via David Zwirner
The Outlands is a thought-provoking and visually stunning exhibition that offers a unique perspective on the American South. Through his vibrant and saturated photographs, Eggleston captures the everyday life and landscapes of the region, revealing its beauty, charm, and mundanity. The exhibition is a must-see for fans of Eggleston’s work and for anyone interested in the American South.
– C. Rhinehardt
Read more:
William Eggleston: The Outlands [Exhibition Site]
