Untitled 

Miguel Rio Branco captured this black and white photograph in Brazil, though the exact date remains unknown. Here, two children are shown, seemingly trying to peel something off a weathered, corrugated wall. Rio Branco’s images often engage with themes of social inequality and marginalization within Brazilian society. Looking closely, the wall's distressed surface hints at decay, and the children's bare feet and simple clothing further underscore the socio-economic conditions present in many parts of Brazil. The act of peeling something off the wall could be interpreted as an attempt to improve their environment or perhaps as an act of defiance against the status quo. To fully appreciate the photograph, we can look at Brazil’s political and economic history and to the role of photography in documenting social issues. Rio Branco’s photograph invites us to reflect on the lives of those living on the margins and on the social structures that shape their experiences.