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

This photograph, Untitled, Shenango Ingot Molds, from the Working People series, was made by Milton Rogovin. The grayscale shades offer a study of light and shadow, it seems so rooted in the process of observing and recording. There’s a starkness to the image. Look at the texture of the brick, the way the light catches on the rough edges. It’s not just about documenting a worker; it’s about the grit and the reality of labor. The man's clothes look worn, and he has a very particular, almost weary expression. The composition of the image is quite striking. He is positioned to the right side of the frame but the rubble draws the eye to the whole frame. Rogovin reminds me a little of Dorothea Lange, in that they both had an interest in people, and also the power of photography to make a record, not just of things, but also a record of how things feel. It’s a reminder that art isn’t always about beauty, but about bearing witness.