Mobile home park, north edge of Denver Possibly 1973 - 2005

Robert Adams made this gelatin silver print, titled 'Mobile home park, north edge of Denver,' sometime in the late 20th century. The image encapsulates ideas about the expansion of urban space and its effects on the natural environment and human experience. Adams’ photograph frames a seemingly ordinary scene: a mobile home park on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. However, this image creates meaning through its cultural references and historical associations. The open space, the blandness of the architecture, the lone child walking down the street: all speak to the changing social landscape of America. The expansion of suburbia and its effects on community are key themes here. We might consider this artwork as a social commentary. Adams subtly critiques the social structures of his time, questioning the American dream and its impact on both the environment and social relationships. Understanding this image better requires research into the history of urban planning, suburbanization, and environmentalism in America. This allows us to appreciate the role of the historian in interpreting art, revealing its deep connections to the social and institutional contexts in which it was created.