View, Albuquerque, New Mexico 1975

Joe Deal captured this black and white photograph, View, Albuquerque, New Mexico, sometime in the 1970s. Deal was part of the New Topographics movement, a moment when photographers began to critically examine the human impact on the American landscape. This image invites us to consider themes of suburban expansion and environmental transformation. Think about the stark contrast between the natural desert landscape and the imposed order of residential architecture. The seemingly mundane scene captures a sense of the socio-economic and racial divisions inherent in American urban planning. Who has access to these spaces, and who is excluded? How does the pursuit of the "American Dream" affect our environment and sense of community? The photograph is both a social commentary and a poignant reflection on the changing face of the American West, stirring emotions linked to loss, adaptation, and the complex relationship between humanity and the earth.