Untitled c. 1920s

Lewis Hine made this photograph sometime in the early twentieth century. I imagine the scene was dimly lit with light streaming from above. The artist is interested in contrasts: the softness of skin against hard steel, the smallness of humanity versus the hugeness of industry, the quiet concentration of the individual compared to the implied noisy activity all around. There is something heroic in this solitary figure’s stance. He steadies the metal component with his left hand, while his right touches the cutting tool. A sense of potential energy reverberates around him, as the machine awaits his command. This is where the material world meets human purpose. This scene speaks of labor and how workers are essential to modern life. This image feels timeless and reflects our never-ending engagement with machines. Hine would have been one of many photographers and artists who captured images of the American worker.