New Topographics

This book is dedicated to the exhibition “New Topographics: Photographs of a Man-Altered Landscape,” held in 1975 at the International Museum of Photography, and demonstrates both the historical significance of the show and its continued relevance in today’s culture. The exhibition brought together Robert Adams, Lewis Baltz, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Joe Deal, Frank Gohlke, Nicholas Nixon, John Schott, Stephen Shore, and Henry Wessel (Jr.). Signaling the emergence of a new approach to landscape, the show effectively gave a name to a movement. Even today, the catchphrase “New Topographics” is used to characterize the work of artists not yet born when the exhibition was held. “New Topographics” has since come to be understood as marking a paradigm shift. The show occurred just as photography took its place within the contemporary art world. Arguably the last traditionally photographic style, “New Topographics” was also the first photo-conceptual style. Illustrated with selected works from the 1975 exhibition, installation views and contextual comparisons, the book also includes an illustrated checklist of the show and an extensive bibliography.