Untitled c. 1920s

This photograph of an anonymous worker was taken by Lewis Hine at some point in his career. It’s a silver gelatin print, which gives it that smooth, silvery tonality, almost like a pencil drawing. The textures are amazing; the rough fabric of the worker’s clothes, the smooth, cool surface of the machine. It's easy to look past the process of making a photograph like this, but Hine really knew his stuff. The way he's captured the light, especially on that giant metal form, gives it this incredible depth. Look at the detail of the man's hands as he holds a small tool to the machine. There's a sense of patience and expertise in his gesture. His labour is almost sculptural. Hine wasn't just documenting; he was seeing the artistry in everyday life. You can almost hear the clatter of the factory, the whirring of the machine, and the quiet focus of the worker, and I find it deeply moving. It reminds me a little of the industrial scenes captured by Charles Sheeler, though Hine is more humanistic in his approach.