This autumn the Nederlands Fotomuseum will be presenting the first retrospective in the Netherlands of the work of American photographer Bruce Davidson (b. 1933). Since the 1950s, Davidson has devoted his time and energy to photographing those for whom the ‘American Dream’ has turned out to be unattainable and who have attempted to hold their own in society.

Davidson depicts major themes as civil rights, violence, poverty, racism and immigration, all from a personal perspective. For many years, for instance, he tagged along with a street gang in Brooklyn and travelled with civil rights activities to the South to take part in The Selma March. This approach has given him first-hand experience with the subjects of his work and enabled him to poignantly show what the ‘American Dream’ has meant for them. The exhibition features almost 200 photographs, including work from his famous series The Dwarf, East 100th Street and Subway.

The exhibition is the result of collaboration with Magnum Photos and the Fundación MAPFRE. The exhibition and international tour have been made possible thanks to the support of the TERRA Foundation for American Art.