Smallest Boy is Joseph Fortin. His Mother (at Home) Said He is 14 Years Old. He Does Not Look It. 6 A.M. Group Going into Mill N. 6. 1. Cocheco Mfg. Co. Dover, N.H. 1909

"Smallest Boy is Joseph Fortin. His Mother (at Home) Said He is 14 Years Old. He Does Not Look It. 6 A.M. Group Going into Mill N. 6. 1. Cocheco Mfg. Co. Dover, N.H." is a powerful photo taken in 1909 by Lewis Hine, a prominent social documentary photographer known for his poignant images of child labor in early 20th-century America. The photo, part of his larger body of work documenting child labor in factories, depicts a group of young boys, some clearly too young to be working, heading into a mill in Dover, New Hampshire. Hine's careful captioning and straightforward, unvarnished approach, highlight the exploitative conditions faced by these children. His work was instrumental in raising awareness about the plight of child laborers and led to legislative reforms. This image, which captures the innocence of youth juxtaposed with the harsh realities of their working lives, is a cornerstone of Hine's legacy.