Untitled 1908

This photograph was taken by Lewis Hine, an American sociologist and photographer, who used his camera as an instrument of social reform. Hine captured this image with modest materials: a camera, a glass plate negative, and the know-how to coax an image into being in the darkroom. Yet the photograph bears witness to the harder work of others: in this case, a young girl surrounded by the woven baskets that were her livelihood. These baskets, likely made of pliable wood, are a testament to a craft tradition, but also symbolize the economic realities of the time. Hine’s artistry lies not just in composition, but in revealing the story of labor and materials. He knew that an image could be a powerful tool for change, challenging the established order, and highlighting the human cost of industrial progress. This photograph serves as a reminder that art can be found in the everyday, and that it has the power to shed light on the lives of those often overlooked.