Untitled 1908

gelatin-silver-print

wedding photograph

black and white photography

photo restoration

portrait image

black and white format

historical photography

black and white theme

portrait reference

black and white

monochrome photography

united-states

"Untitled" is a poignant black and white photograph taken in 1908 by Lewis Hine, a renowned American social documentary photographer. The image captures the somber gaze of a young boy, likely a child laborer, whose worn clothing and weary expression speak volumes about the harsh realities of the era. Hine's work, often characterized by a direct and unflinching style, aimed to expose the injustices faced by working-class individuals, particularly children, in the early 20th century. This photograph, part of a larger body of work documenting child labor, is a powerful testament to Hine's commitment to social justice and serves as a historical record of a period marked by economic hardship and exploitation.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Lewis Hine was a documentary photographer, educator, and social reformer. Trained in sociology, Hine taught at the progressive Ethical Culture School in New York City before turning his attention to photography. As a photographer for the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), Hine traveled the United States to document children in unsafe working conditions in factories, mines, fields, and city streets. Over ten years, he created an indelible record of the human cost of an exploitative labor market, documenting the tired faces of children at the end of their shifts, or even children mutilated by industrial machinery. These disturbing photographs were used in publications and presentations created by Hine and the NCLC, and ultimately promoted sweeping policy changes designed to protect children.