Richard Avedon (1923–2004), America's pre-eminent editorial portraitist and fashion photographer, photographed the faces of politics throughout his career. As the country enters the next presidential election season, the Corcoran will bring together Avedon's political portraits for the first time.

This exhibition will explore the taxonomy of politics and power by juxtaposing images of elite government, media, and labor officials with counter-cultural activists and ordinary citizens caught up in national debates.

Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power will include approximately 200 photographs from the 1950s through the artist's death in 2004, displayed chronologically and grouped within Avedon's specific editorial projects. A major catalogue, published by Steidl, will accompany the exhibition. -- www.corcoran.org