Fireplace, Burrough's Bedroom, Hale County, Alabama 1936

"Fireplace, Burrough's Bedroom, Hale County, Alabama" (1936) is a stark black and white photograph by Walker Evans, a prominent figure in the documentary photography movement. The image, captured in Hale County, Alabama, depicts a simple, utilitarian bedroom. The focus is on the fireplace, which is the central element in this composition. The unadorned fireplace, with its brick hearth and a pair of boots resting on the floor in front of it, suggests a life lived in close proximity to the natural elements. The photograph's detail, including a framed picture on the wall and a small shelf with personal belongings, offers a glimpse into the lives of the residents of this home. The composition is direct and unpretentious, capturing the everyday realities of rural life in the American South.