Oogsten van tabak 1925 - 1928

This photograph, Oogsten van tabak, shows workers harvesting tobacco, and was made by an anonymous artist with unknown tools at an unknown date. The monochromatic palette creates a somber tone, yet the composition is dynamic, capturing a moment of human action in a field. The textures and surfaces create a tactile quality. Looking closely, the contrast between the dark figures and the lighter field accentuates the workers laboring in the sun. I think about what kind of physical effort went into producing this image. The repetitive marks evoke the repetitive physical labor of the workers themselves, stooping in the field. The way the anonymous artist rendered light across the scene is gorgeous. It makes me think of the starkness in Walker Evans' documentary photography. Both show us something real. Art doesn’t need to be decorative or flashy. It should get to the truth. It makes you think.