We the People

August 4, 1987
With his characteristic attention to detail, Spier celebrates the Constitution by including the Declaration of Independence, the body of the document, amendments, a 1787 map of the U.S. and a photograph of each of the signers. He briefly outlines the history of the document and the events of its creation. The book covers similar ground as others published this anniversary year. Then, in 25-30 frames each spread, the artist tries to show what the words inspire. He depicts scenes of America in 1787 and 1987: one woman hangs clothes on a line in colonial days, a modern woman pulls clothes from her dryer; a prisoner sits in a stockade back then, another is seen inside today's prison cell. There are scenes of the U.S.'s roads and monuments, of national historic sites, of ordinary moments and day-to-day individual freedoms. Spier has created a tribute that can be appreciated in more than one sittingthe images are varied and exhaustive. All ages.