Family in the Picture, 1958–2013

Over the past half century, Friedlander has widely exhibited his distinctive images and become one of America's best-known photographers. He has also published numerous collections of his work and this volume is arguably among his best. Intended as a companion volume to the recently published In the Picture: Self-Portraits 1958–2011, this substantial book includes more than 350 black-and-white images. There is virtually no text, simply a short identifying caption and date. Anything more would likely have been intrusive because this is a visual story of the photographer's family told through his unique images. Friedlander begins with pictures of his wife, Maria, and weaves a chronology of the key moments—births, childhood, coming of age, marriage, and death—of their family's life over the decades. Among the great strengths of the book are its cohesion and personal tone. And the latter is all the more touching because it is often understated.