Tract House #7 1971

This photograph, *Tract House #7*, was made by Lewis Baltz. His images document the built environment, and particularly the architecture of mass-produced housing. Here, he directs our attention to the materials of suburban development: the stucco walls, the shingled roof, the dark glass of the window. All are presented with an absolute minimum of aesthetic intervention. You could say that the photograph simply records the scene. But, in its very deadpan quality, the image emphasizes the alienating effect of these buildings. The way that Baltz made this image is key. His seemingly neutral approach points to the larger social issue of mass production and its effect on the landscape. Baltz isn't just showing us a house, he is asking us to consider the processes and politics that shape our environment, challenging our notions of beauty and craftsmanship. Ultimately, his work prompts us to consider the human cost of progress.