[James Riddle] Hoffa (1913-?1975) Makes a Few Mental Notes 1957

Curator: This small gelatin silver print by Joe Migon captures James Riddle Hoffa, the controversial labor leader. The composition immediately suggests a constructed narrative, like a storyboard. Editor: There’s an unsettling tension between the mundane and the menacing in the way Hoffa is presented. The suit, the cigar, the notes, the...smile? It feels carefully staged. Curator: The cigar, a classic symbol of power and control. His varying expressions, from contemplative to almost predatory, show how he cultivated his public persona, a lasting cultural image. Editor: And it's interesting how accessible the image is—a photograph. It underscores how readily available figures like Hoffa were, influencing labor, politics, and even popular culture through accessible media. Curator: Ultimately, this portrait encapsulates Hoffa’s complex legacy, the kind of figure that continues to fascinate and haunt our collective memory. Editor: I see in it, a subtle reminder that the stage is always set, and the players, in this case Hoffa, are very aware of their roles and how to play them.