Untitled 19131913

Lewis Hine made this photograph, an unassuming gelatin silver print, sometime in the early 20th century. It looks like he has caught this young delivery boy mid-ride! There's a certain precariousness to the kid's balancing act with the bike, almost like a dance. I can imagine Hine trying to capture the boy’s energy and dynamism with a single shot. I wonder what the boy was thinking as he posed. Was he nervous? Did he understand what Hine wanted? As a painter, I know there's always an element of collaboration and connection with the subject, even if it's just for a fleeting moment. Looking at this, I'm reminded of other artists documenting everyday lives, whether it's Käthe Kollwitz or even Dorothea Lange. They are all connected, documenting the human condition through their work and inspiring us to see the world a little differently.