Sydney Grosser
Through interpreting this photograph, one can learn a great deal about the 1930’s that cannot be gathered from traditional historical texts. This photo by Ben Shahn exemplifies a central theme of his work, which is the condition of people in the rural communities where they work. Upon first looking at the image, one most likely first notices the men working hard, bent over the fence they are constructing. These workers are the central point of the image, but another object included is the planks that are used to build the fence, they are scattered on the ground in an unorganized manner behind the workers. The setting appears to be the field in which they are working to build the fence. Upon taking a second look at the image, one may notice the actual length of the fence these workers are constructing. It is extremely long and overwhelming; it looks as if it goes on forever because there is no end in sight within the image.
When the photographer captured this image, he was at the same level as the subject. This particular vantage point helps to get the message across because it gets the viewer on the same level as the workers and forces one to be where they are, if only for a moment. The viewer sees the bent-over laborers, the miles of fence, and copious amount of wood planks yet to be added to the project. We can see the work they had to do from almost a first-person perspective.
The mood of this photograph is one of hardworking, serious matter. Through examining this image, one can see the extreme degree to which these people had to work, because there was only three men for this overwhelming length of fence with no end in sight. We can begin to understand how hard their work was through learning about this image and other images from Ben Shahn.
Interpreting images shows the emotion other documents cannot depict through text. I think the photographer wanted us to see these people’s work and how labor intensive and demanding it was. We can see them bent over their work and feel the emotion and imagine how overwhelming it must have been. To conclude, interpreting images such as this one is a refreshing, meaningful way to learn about the history of our country and the people who lived through it daily.
I almost picked this photo! I absolutely love that you talked about the The particular vantage point. I do believe that it helps to get a message across to the viewer and almost takes them into the photo. The viewer being on the same level as the workers makes it feel like we are there walking up tools in hand about to go to work with them. Being on the same playing field you don't have the typical "oh that must of been hard for them" be rather a hurt in your hands feeling how hard the work is. The bent-over laborers, the miles of fence, it adds an overwhelming aspect to the image. Wondering if it will ever be done and if thats the point, if it is a distraction or just a long job to hopefully bring in money for a long time.
ReplyDeleteYour a great writer I enjoyed the story you told. When you talk about how the photographer captured the image as the same level as the people I really took time to realize that it makes such a difference , and gives you a better sense of actually being there. I like how you talk about the distance and how long the fence is. During those time periods especially men did hard labor to bring back money for the family to meet financial obligations. It was a difficult time but they did what they had to, and this picture shows they are determined and motivated.
ReplyDeleteSydney makes a good point about the value of photographic artifacts and how they differ from other kinds of historical artifacts like texts. There is something about seeing people working hard that is more difficult to communicate through writing. Sydney is also very astute to draw our attention to the fence's length and the way that it intensifies the feeling of seemingly unending toil. This detail is also something uniquely characteristic of agricultural labor. Even in contemporary farming areas, its common to hear that "there's always work to do on a farm" because keeping a farm going requires continuous, often seasonal, work. This perpetual need for labor, compounded by economic struggle, intensifies our access to the regional plight Shahn captures.
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