The Amon Carter Museum’s current exhibition, “In The American West: Photographs By Richard Avedon,” offers a snapshot of American art both novices and aficionados alike can appreciate.Since its inception n 2002, Avedon worked with Amon Carter Museum Senior Curator of Photographs John Rohrbach until his death in 2004 to create and design this exhibit. The exhibit will open to coincide with, and commemorate, the 20th anniversary of the original acclaimed exhibition.

Together for the first time since, the exhibit features 78 of the original 124 images that were displayed in 1985; Avedon’s oversized portraits of those who live in the American West capture the happiness and hardships of the time.

From young couples to drifters to coal miners and slaughterhouse workers, Avedon’s portraits, all of which are set against a white background, give life to the people he photographed.

The design of the exhibition itself only adds to the impact the images impress upon patrons.

Divided into three sections, noticable by the white, grey and black-painted walls, Avedon’s large portraits are spaced about accordingly, allowing one to view each from multiple angles. This space allows for visitors’ attention to remain fully on one photograph so they may study it and capture the subjects’s personality.

As visitors go from room to room in the exhibition, a portrait larger than the previous comes into view, leading patrons from one room to another, which serves to set the tone of the different sections.

Showing that photography can be a powerful tool “In The American West: Photographs By Richard Avedon” reveals the identity of the people who lived in the American West in a way words fail to do.

Open Sept. 17 to Jan. 8, admission to “In The American West: Photographs By Richard Avedon” is free for museum members and children, $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 62 and over and college students and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. admission to the exhibition is free for everyone.