James Mathis, Amherst Foundry (Working People series) 1979

Milton Rogovin made this black and white photograph of James Mathis at the Amherst Foundry. It's one of the photos from his series, Working People. What strikes me is the texture, how the light seems to almost bounce off the surfaces of the brick and the machinery. The contrast is strong, almost like a charcoal drawing, where the highlights and shadows really define the forms. Look closely at the way the light catches on James's skin, and the grit of his hands, the cloth of his head covering. It tells a story of physical labor and presence, doesn't it? The photograph reminds me of the work of Dorothea Lange and other documentary photographers who were interested in capturing a sense of social realism during the twentieth century. There's a similar sense of bearing witness, a respect for the individual. And yet, the image is also really abstract - like a beautifully balanced composition made up of squares and rectangles. It’s a powerful image of labor and dignity, and an ongoing conversation about the value of work and the human spirit.