Pedro, Atlas Steel Casting (Working People series) 1978 - 1979

This photograph by Milton Rogovin captures a steelworker named Pedro, amidst his labor. Notice the number '3' emblazoned on the brick wall. The number, a seemingly simple numerical indicator, is deeply intertwined with human psychology and cultural symbolism. Throughout history, the number three has resurfaced in various contexts, often associated with divinity, unity, and completion. Consider the Holy Trinity in Christianity or the tripartite division of the world in ancient mythologies. Could this '3' be an unconscious echo of these ancient belief systems, imbuing the worker's environment with a sense of order? The gritty setting and Pedro's resilient gaze also evoke a primal energy. The photograph stirs something deep within us – a visceral connection to the human spirit's tenacity. It's as if the number '3' and Pedro’s figure work together, to transcend its immediate context and tap into a collective unconscious.