Christmas Through the Eyes of Photographer Lee Friedlander

“Whether or not you have celebrated Christmas in the past seventy years (roughly the period covered by these photos), there is no doubt that you have encountered something of what Lee Friedlander shows us here.” So here goes. Lee Friedlander: Christmasa new collection of holiday-related images from the Elkins Journalism Foundation. The book brings together a variety of images from the legendary photographer, who began turning his lens on American life in 1948 and is now 91 years old.

On Friedlander’s take on Christmas, fellow photographer Peter Kayafas The article that follows continues: “Rather than go on about what this means—which would do the photo a disservice—it’s worth considering what Christmas in America looks like through the eyes of the great social landscape artists, because, after all, what could be more defining of the social landscape than the things we share—environment, religion, heritage, or commerce? A quick word about Friedlander. All of these come to mind: plastic, disposable, cheap, timely, sincere, ritualistic, exquisite, ubiquitous, sad, beautiful, true.”

Check out some highlights below Lee Friedlander: Christmas.