Family Making Artificial Flowers 1908

This photograph by Lewis Hine captures a family making artificial flowers, and it's rendered in shades of gray and brown. The absence of vibrant color gives the image a documentary feel, focusing our attention on the process of creation. I'm drawn to the tactile quality of the image. You can almost feel the delicate texture of the artificial flowers and the patterned cloth that covers the table. There is a tenderness about this scene, with the children all working alongside their parents, but there is also a melancholy aspect to the image. There's something about the way the family is arranged around the table, their heads bent in concentration, that speaks to the labor and dedication required to create these delicate objects. Hine was known for his photographs of child labor, but this one has a formal similarity to some of the Dutch Masters, like Vermeer, who were also concerned with depicting scenes of domestic labor. The photograph offers us a glimpse into a world of work, family, and artistry.