Untitled, Shenango Ingot Molds (Working People series) 1978 - 1981

This is an image from Milton Rogovin’s “Working People” series, a black and white photograph of workers at the Shenango Ingot Molds. It's a study in contrasts, light and shadow, presence and absence, labor and industry. The photograph is deeply material in its subject and form. The dark greys feel dense and heavy, like the labor on display. Light falls across the scene but illuminates only certain parts, like a momentary spark of hope against the odds. Focusing on the worker on the right, the way he's almost crawling into the darkness is so suggestive. It reminds me of some of the darker etchings of Goya, where humanity is tested, and the body contorts under pressure. Rogovin's work, like that of the Bechers, reminds us of the dignity of everyday life and labor, and how photography can capture these moments in ways that both document and elevate. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.