Bessemer Possibly 1936 - 1971

Walker Evans made "Bessemer" using photography, a relatively new medium at the time, to capture the industrialized landscape. The photograph's stark contrast emphasizes the texture and weight of the steel mills looming over the landscape, reflecting the intense labor and industrial processes behind steel production. Evans uses the camera like a mechanical eye, creating a seemingly objective record. Yet the composition, framing the mills as a backdrop to the town's modest dwellings, imbues the image with social commentary. Photography's ability to document reality democratized art, and Evans elevates everyday subjects to artistic significance. His approach bridges the gap between documentary and art, using industrial subject matter to engage with wider social issues of labor, class, and the impact of industrialization. By focusing on the material realities of industrial life, Evans challenges traditional distinctions, inviting viewers to consider the social and cultural significance of everyday landscapes.